California Attorney General Rob Bonta told Fox 11 anchor Marla Tellez on Friday that he did not know Michael Gates, the former Huntington Beach city attorney who had just challenged him to a series of debates. With one short answer on live TV, Bonta put a statewide spotlight on a feud that has been simmering for years between Huntington Beach officials and Sacramento.
According to FOX 11 Los Angeles, Tellez asked Bonta for his reaction to Gates’ written debate challenge. Bonta responded that he did not “know a Michael Gates,” then proceeded to summarize Gates’ tenure as Huntington Beach’s city attorney. The clip aired during the evening newscast and quickly bounced around political circles across California.
Gates Is Running For Attorney General
In mid-January, Michael Gates officially jumped into the race for California attorney general, pitching himself as a conservative alternative to Bonta and centering his campaign on law-and-order themes and election integrity. LAist reported that Gates framed his run as a direct challenge to the priorities coming out of Sacramento.
Controversial Record Followed Gates To Sacramento
Gates’ bid comes on the heels of a rocky year in which he spent roughly 10 months working for the U.S. Department of Justice before returning to Huntington Beach. His exit from the federal post was clouded by conflict over whether he resigned or was fired. The Los Angeles Times detailed the dispute over his departure and the ensuing local political fallout tied to his rehiring at City Hall.
Old Fights Make New Sparks
Bonta, who is running for re-election, has already tangled with Huntington Beach leaders over issues such as the city’s push for voter ID, a policy that Gates backed while serving as city attorney. Rob Bonta’s campaign highlights his record on public-safety enforcement, while coverage of Gates has often portrayed him as a sharply polarizing figure who regularly sued or resisted state policy coming from Sacramento. LAist previously tracked the voter ID clash that helped set the stage for the current rivalry.
For now, the brief TV exchange is an early sign that the 2026 attorney general race could turn as personal as it is political. Whether Gates’ debate challenge turns into a formal series or just more back-and-forth on the campaign trail, the dust-up shows how a local fight in Huntington Beach can quickly become part of a statewide storyline.
