november 2022 VOTER GUIDE

ATTORNEY GENERAL

What is the Attorney General?

  • The Attorney General (AG) is the state's top lawyer and law enforcement official, overseeing 4,500 attorneys, sworn officers, investigators and civilian employee charged with protecting and serving the people and interests of the state

  • The AG's responsibilities include safeguarding Californians from harm and promoting community safety, preserving California's natural resources, enforcing civil rights laws, and helping victims of identity theft, mortgage-related fraud, illegal business practices, and other consumer crimes

  • They represent the people of California in civil and criminal matters before the trial, appellate, and supreme courts of California and the United States

  • The AG serves four-year terms and can serve two consecutive terms

  • The salary and benefits of this full-time position total $198,000 per year

Why You Should Care

Successful California AGs often ascend to higher office. Jerry Brown served a second 8-year stint as Governor after serving as Attorney General. Xavier Becerra, who is now the leader of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and Vice President Kamala Harris, also served as AG. Attorney Generals are also powerful lines of defense against federal incursion into citizens’ rights—particularly on issues like abortion. 

Our Vision for the Office

The Attorney General should be a passionate advocate for Californians and a legal savant. 

Rob Bonta


Why vote for him: As Attorney General, Rob Bonta has worked hard to hold cities accountable for their anti-housing policies. Specifically, under his leadership, California has rejected illegal “housing element” plans from cities that seek to exclude new residents by keeping the supply of housing artificially small. Bonta has also supported more stringent federal regulations on firearms, launched an investigation into TikTok and its effects on the mental health of children, and formed a special unit to enforce tenant protection laws. In another term, we would hope that Bonta will continue this work to tackle the state’s housing crisis from a legal perspective. 

Paid for by TogetherSF Action. Not authorized by any candidate or a committee controlled by a candidate. Financial disclosures are available at sfethics.org.

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