Bonta again says he won't enter governor's race

State attorney general says he will seek reelection to keep Trump in check.

- BY SEEMA MEHTA AND KEVIN RECTOR

ALLEN J. SCHABEN Los Angeles Times

CALIFORNIA Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta's office has sued the Trump administration more than 50 times.

California Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta announced Sunday that he would not run for California governor, a decision he said was grounded in his belief that his legal efforts combating the Trump administration as the state's top prosecutor are paramount at this time in history.

"In this moment, my place is here, on the front lines, in the trenches, serving as a bulwark, creating a protection around our state and our people, our values and our progress in the face of these vicious, inhumane, unlawful, cruel attacks from the Trump administration," Bonta said in an interview Sunday night.

Bonta said his role as state attorney general affords him greater power to fight President Trump's policies that have disproportionately affected Californians than he would be able to do as governor.

"I have a role to play that I think is leading in the nation," Bonta said. "I want to continue to be the biggest and most powerful check on the abuse of power from this president."

Bonta said that Trump's actions in Venezuela, attempts to block welfare funds to Democratic-led states and the fatal shooting of a Minnesota mother of three last week by a federal immigration agent cemented his decision to seek reelection to his current post.