Each summary is supported by the candidate's own words from a campaign source, direct candidate response, or official primary record retained with the profile.
Fully enforce Proposition 36
Candidate positionWe need a new Attorney General. According to FBI data, California ranks 6th highest in the nation for violent crime. Every Californian deserves to feel safe—in their neighborhoods, at school, walking to the store. Too many families don’t feel that way today. Fentanyl is taking our kids. Retail theft is closing the stores we count on. Nearly half of all homeless Americans live in California. And crime always hits working families hardest. I am a husband of 30 years and father of five. I have spent my career trying cases in courtrooms, not politics, as a trial attorney and prosecutor. I enforced Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Justice and am admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court. As a City Attorney, I built a local prosecution program that cut crime by double digits in its first year and made Huntington Beach one of California’s safest cities. I brought residents, leaders, and law enforcement together, and I will do the same as your Attorney General. Californians voted for Prop. 36 overwhelmingly to restore accountability for repeat theft and drug offenses. I will fully enforce it and will prosecute the traffickers poisoning our communities, protect victims, help people off the streets and into treatment, and make sure your tax dollars are spent honestly and effectively. Safe streets and equal justice belong to every community, whatever your zip code or last name. Public safety is not a partisan issue, and I will never treat it like one. www.Gates4AG.com
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We need a new Attorney General. According to FBI data, California ranks 6th highest in the nation for violent crime. Every Californian deserves to feel safe—in their neighborhoods, at school, walking to the store. Too many families don’t feel that way today. Fentanyl is taking our kids. Retail theft is closing the stores we count on. Nearly half of all homeless Americans live in California. And crime always hits working families hardest. I am a husband of 30 years and father of five. I have spent my career trying cases in courtrooms, not politics, as a trial attorney and prosecutor. I enforced Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Justice and am admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court. As a City Attorney, I built a local prosecution program that cut crime by double digits in its first year and made Huntington Beach one of California’s safest cities. I brought residents, leaders, and law enforcement together, and I will do the same as your Attorney General. Californians voted for Prop. 36 overwhelmingly to restore accountability for repeat theft and drug offenses. I will fully enforce it and will prosecute the traffickers poisoning our communities, protect victims, help people off the streets and into treatment, and make sure your tax dollars are spent honestly and effectively. Safe streets and equal justice belong to every community, whatever your zip code or last name. Public safety is not a partisan issue, and I will never treat it like one. www.Gates4AG.com
Prosecute drug traffickers
Candidate positionWe need a new Attorney General. According to FBI data, California ranks 6th highest in the nation for violent crime. Every Californian deserves to feel safe—in their neighborhoods, at school, walking to the store. Too many families don’t feel that way today. Fentanyl is taking our kids. Retail theft is closing the stores we count on. Nearly half of all homeless Americans live in California. And crime always hits working families hardest. I am a husband of 30 years and father of five. I have spent my career trying cases in courtrooms, not politics, as a trial attorney and prosecutor. I enforced Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Justice and am admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court. As a City Attorney, I built a local prosecution program that cut crime by double digits in its first year and made Huntington Beach one of California’s safest cities. I brought residents, leaders, and law enforcement together, and I will do the same as your Attorney General. Californians voted for Prop. 36 overwhelmingly to restore accountability for repeat theft and drug offenses. I will fully enforce it and will prosecute the traffickers poisoning our communities, protect victims, help people off the streets and into treatment, and make sure your tax dollars are spent honestly and effectively. Safe streets and equal justice belong to every community, whatever your zip code or last name. Public safety is not a partisan issue, and I will never treat it like one. www.Gates4AG.com
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The text below is the exact source material used for this statement.
We need a new Attorney General. According to FBI data, California ranks 6th highest in the nation for violent crime. Every Californian deserves to feel safe—in their neighborhoods, at school, walking to the store. Too many families don’t feel that way today. Fentanyl is taking our kids. Retail theft is closing the stores we count on. Nearly half of all homeless Americans live in California. And crime always hits working families hardest. I am a husband of 30 years and father of five. I have spent my career trying cases in courtrooms, not politics, as a trial attorney and prosecutor. I enforced Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Justice and am admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court. As a City Attorney, I built a local prosecution program that cut crime by double digits in its first year and made Huntington Beach one of California’s safest cities. I brought residents, leaders, and law enforcement together, and I will do the same as your Attorney General. Californians voted for Prop. 36 overwhelmingly to restore accountability for repeat theft and drug offenses. I will fully enforce it and will prosecute the traffickers poisoning our communities, protect victims, help people off the streets and into treatment, and make sure your tax dollars are spent honestly and effectively. Safe streets and equal justice belong to every community, whatever your zip code or last name. Public safety is not a partisan issue, and I will never treat it like one. www.Gates4AG.com
Protect crime victims
Candidate positionWe need a new Attorney General. According to FBI data, California ranks 6th highest in the nation for violent crime. Every Californian deserves to feel safe—in their neighborhoods, at school, walking to the store. Too many families don’t feel that way today. Fentanyl is taking our kids. Retail theft is closing the stores we count on. Nearly half of all homeless Americans live in California. And crime always hits working families hardest. I am a husband of 30 years and father of five. I have spent my career trying cases in courtrooms, not politics, as a trial attorney and prosecutor. I enforced Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Justice and am admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court. As a City Attorney, I built a local prosecution program that cut crime by double digits in its first year and made Huntington Beach one of California’s safest cities. I brought residents, leaders, and law enforcement together, and I will do the same as your Attorney General. Californians voted for Prop. 36 overwhelmingly to restore accountability for repeat theft and drug offenses. I will fully enforce it and will prosecute the traffickers poisoning our communities, protect victims, help people off the streets and into treatment, and make sure your tax dollars are spent honestly and effectively. Safe streets and equal justice belong to every community, whatever your zip code or last name. Public safety is not a partisan issue, and I will never treat it like one. www.Gates4AG.com
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The text below is the exact source material used for this statement.
We need a new Attorney General. According to FBI data, California ranks 6th highest in the nation for violent crime. Every Californian deserves to feel safe—in their neighborhoods, at school, walking to the store. Too many families don’t feel that way today. Fentanyl is taking our kids. Retail theft is closing the stores we count on. Nearly half of all homeless Americans live in California. And crime always hits working families hardest. I am a husband of 30 years and father of five. I have spent my career trying cases in courtrooms, not politics, as a trial attorney and prosecutor. I enforced Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Justice and am admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court. As a City Attorney, I built a local prosecution program that cut crime by double digits in its first year and made Huntington Beach one of California’s safest cities. I brought residents, leaders, and law enforcement together, and I will do the same as your Attorney General. Californians voted for Prop. 36 overwhelmingly to restore accountability for repeat theft and drug offenses. I will fully enforce it and will prosecute the traffickers poisoning our communities, protect victims, help people off the streets and into treatment, and make sure your tax dollars are spent honestly and effectively. Safe streets and equal justice belong to every community, whatever your zip code or last name. Public safety is not a partisan issue, and I will never treat it like one. www.Gates4AG.com
Move unhoused people into treatment
Candidate positionWe need a new Attorney General. According to FBI data, California ranks 6th highest in the nation for violent crime. Every Californian deserves to feel safe—in their neighborhoods, at school, walking to the store. Too many families don’t feel that way today. Fentanyl is taking our kids. Retail theft is closing the stores we count on. Nearly half of all homeless Americans live in California. And crime always hits working families hardest. I am a husband of 30 years and father of five. I have spent my career trying cases in courtrooms, not politics, as a trial attorney and prosecutor. I enforced Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Justice and am admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court. As a City Attorney, I built a local prosecution program that cut crime by double digits in its first year and made Huntington Beach one of California’s safest cities. I brought residents, leaders, and law enforcement together, and I will do the same as your Attorney General. Californians voted for Prop. 36 overwhelmingly to restore accountability for repeat theft and drug offenses. I will fully enforce it and will prosecute the traffickers poisoning our communities, protect victims, help people off the streets and into treatment, and make sure your tax dollars are spent honestly and effectively. Safe streets and equal justice belong to every community, whatever your zip code or last name. Public safety is not a partisan issue, and I will never treat it like one. www.Gates4AG.com
Read exact supporting textExact evidence retained
The text below is the exact source material used for this statement.
We need a new Attorney General. According to FBI data, California ranks 6th highest in the nation for violent crime. Every Californian deserves to feel safe—in their neighborhoods, at school, walking to the store. Too many families don’t feel that way today. Fentanyl is taking our kids. Retail theft is closing the stores we count on. Nearly half of all homeless Americans live in California. And crime always hits working families hardest. I am a husband of 30 years and father of five. I have spent my career trying cases in courtrooms, not politics, as a trial attorney and prosecutor. I enforced Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Justice and am admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court. As a City Attorney, I built a local prosecution program that cut crime by double digits in its first year and made Huntington Beach one of California’s safest cities. I brought residents, leaders, and law enforcement together, and I will do the same as your Attorney General. Californians voted for Prop. 36 overwhelmingly to restore accountability for repeat theft and drug offenses. I will fully enforce it and will prosecute the traffickers poisoning our communities, protect victims, help people off the streets and into treatment, and make sure your tax dollars are spent honestly and effectively. Safe streets and equal justice belong to every community, whatever your zip code or last name. Public safety is not a partisan issue, and I will never treat it like one. www.Gates4AG.com
Prioritize violent and repeat offenders
Candidate positionPrioritize prosecution of violent and repeat offenders
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Prioritize prosecution of violent and repeat offenders
Protect local land-use authority
Candidate positionDefend the constitutional authority of cities and counties to control zoning, land use, and housing decisions
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Defend the constitutional authority of cities and counties to control zoning, land use, and housing decisions
Fund and legally defend police
Candidate positionEnsure officers have the backing and resources they need to keep communities safe
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Ensure officers have the backing and resources they need to keep communities safe
Investigate fraud and recover public funds
Candidate positionDemand full transparency with real public reporting and independent audits.
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Demand full transparency with real public reporting and independent audits.
Restrict participation in girls’ sports
Candidate positionEnforce Title IX statewide in all sports and education
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Enforce Title IX statewide in all sports and education
Defend parental notification and speech
Candidate positionWhile he was City Attorney of Huntington Beach, Michael led the charge to protect the parents and children by drafting a "Parents' Right To Know" Ordinance, which was adopted by City Council. He also sued the State of California challenging the AB 1955 - a new state law that mandated teachers and educators keep secrets from parents regarding their children's gender issues.
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While he was City Attorney of Huntington Beach, Michael led the charge to protect the parents and children by drafting a "Parents' Right To Know" Ordinance, which was adopted by City Council. He also sued the State of California challenging the AB 1955 - a new state law that mandated teachers and educators keep secrets from parents regarding their children's gender issues.
Oversee homelessness spending and enforcement
Candidate positionEnforcing laws against open drug use, encampments, and trafficking
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Enforcing laws against open drug use, encampments, and trafficking
Investigate election complaints and maintain voter rolls
Candidate positionInvestigate all credible complaints of election irregularities and alleged violations of California election law
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Investigate all credible complaints of election irregularities and alleged violations of California election law
Defend gun rights and streamline carry permits
Candidate positionDefend the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding Californians
Oppose unconstitutional attacks on the right to keep and bear arms
Streamline processes for CCWs
Focus enforcement on violent criminals, gangs and repeat offenders – not responsible gun owners
Support law enforcement efforts to get illegal guns out of the hands of criminals
Fight back against Sacramento politicians who use public safety as an excuse to weaken constitutional rights
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Defend the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding Californians
Oppose unconstitutional attacks on the right to keep and bear arms
Streamline processes for CCWs
Focus enforcement on violent criminals, gangs and repeat offenders – not responsible gun owners
Support law enforcement efforts to get illegal guns out of the hands of criminals
Fight back against Sacramento politicians who use public safety as an excuse to weaken constitutional rights
Support voter identification — primary statement
Candidate positionCalifornia families deserve to be safe again. Crime is rising, homelessness is out of control, fraud with taxpayer dollars is rampant, and our children—especially young girls—are not being protected. The Office of Attorney General should be focused on enforcing the law and keeping families safe, not playing politics. I'm a husband and father of five, and like every parent, I want our children to grow up in safe communities. That's why public safety has always been my top priority. As the City Attorney for Huntington Beach, I fought for the people. I created a city criminal prosecutor program that prosecuted quality-of-life crimes and reduced crime by double digits. We proved that when the law is enforced, communities thrive. As Attorney General, I will make crime illegal again by prosecuting all crimes, including enforcing Proposition 36, and use the law to address homelessness by holding criminals accountable while getting people off our streets and into treatment. I will stand up for police, support law enforcement and defend them when they are unfairly attacked. I will also bring proven programs that lowered crime and homelessness in Huntington Beach to cities across California. I will aggressively prosecute fraud and corruption in Sacramento, protect parents' rights, enforce laws that keep boys out of girls' sports and support Voter ID. This is a serious office. I will fight for everyday Californians and bring accountability and safety back to California. Learn more at www.Gates4AG.com.
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California families deserve to be safe again. Crime is rising, homelessness is out of control, fraud with taxpayer dollars is rampant, and our children—especially young girls—are not being protected. The Office of Attorney General should be focused on enforcing the law and keeping families safe, not playing politics. I'm a husband and father of five, and like every parent, I want our children to grow up in safe communities. That's why public safety has always been my top priority. As the City Attorney for Huntington Beach, I fought for the people. I created a city criminal prosecutor program that prosecuted quality-of-life crimes and reduced crime by double digits. We proved that when the law is enforced, communities thrive. As Attorney General, I will make crime illegal again by prosecuting all crimes, including enforcing Proposition 36, and use the law to address homelessness by holding criminals accountable while getting people off our streets and into treatment. I will stand up for police, support law enforcement and defend them when they are unfairly attacked. I will also bring proven programs that lowered crime and homelessness in Huntington Beach to cities across California. I will aggressively prosecute fraud and corruption in Sacramento, protect parents' rights, enforce laws that keep boys out of girls' sports and support Voter ID. This is a serious office. I will fight for everyday Californians and bring accountability and safety back to California. Learn more at www.Gates4AG.com.
Local criminal prosecution program
Candidate’s account of past workAs City Attorney, Michael became known for a tough, hands-on approach to public safety. He established Huntington Beach’s first-ever local Criminal Prosecutor Program in 2017 in response to Sacramento’s ongoing attack on law enforcement and the criminal justice system. The program emphasized prosecuting misdemeanors with the same seriousness as felonies, supporting law enforcement, and restoring quality of life. As a result, Huntington Beach reported an 11.5% reduction in crime in the city’s downtown area, and Michael became of champion for police officers, consistently fighting for them in court, and winning. Michael quickly built a record of success in fighting crime and homelessness in Huntington Beach.
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As City Attorney, Michael became known for a tough, hands-on approach to public safety. He established Huntington Beach’s first-ever local Criminal Prosecutor Program in 2017 in response to Sacramento’s ongoing attack on law enforcement and the criminal justice system. The program emphasized prosecuting misdemeanors with the same seriousness as felonies, supporting law enforcement, and restoring quality of life. As a result, Huntington Beach reported an 11.5% reduction in crime in the city’s downtown area, and Michael became of champion for police officers, consistently fighting for them in court, and winning. Michael quickly built a record of success in fighting crime and homelessness in Huntington Beach.
Municipal litigation work
Candidate’s account of past workThroughout his tenure, Michael personally argued some of the city’s most high-profile and politically sensitive cases, including litigation involving voter integrity laws, state housing mandates, and challenges to state policies. Michael aggressively fought Sacramento on behalf of the residents he represents, reflecting his ability to lead from the front and his reputation as a fighter for the people.
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Throughout his tenure, Michael personally argued some of the city’s most high-profile and politically sensitive cases, including litigation involving voter integrity laws, state housing mandates, and challenges to state policies. Michael aggressively fought Sacramento on behalf of the residents he represents, reflecting his ability to lead from the front and his reputation as a fighter for the people.