# Attorney General of California

| Attorney General of California |
| --- |
| Seal of the attorney general |
| **Incumbent Rob Bonta** since April 23, 2021 |
| California Department of Justice |
| Style | The Honorable |
| Term length | Four years, two term limit |
| Inaugural holder | Edward J. C. Kewen 1849 |
| Formation | Constitution of California |
| Unofficial names | California Attorney General |
| Salary | $151,127 |
| Website | oag.ca.gov |

The **attorney general of California** is the state attorney general of the government of California. The attorney general carries out the responsibilities of the office through the California Department of Justice.

## Duties

* As the state's chief law officer, ensures that the laws of the state are enforced.
* Heads the Department of Justice, which is responsible for providing state legal services and support for local law enforcement.
* Acts as the chief counsel in the state.

Oversees law enforcement agencies, including district attorneys and sheriffs.

## List of attorney generals

| No. | Portrait | Name | Party | Term |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 |  | Edward J. C. Kewen |  | Democratic | 1849
– 1850 |
| 2 |  | James A. McDougall |  | Democratic | 1850
– 1851 |
| 3 |  | Serranus C. Hastings |  | Democratic | January 5, 1852
– January 2, 1854 |
| 4 |  | John R. McConnell |  | Democratic | 1854
– 1856 |
| 5 |  | William M. Stewart |  | Democratic | June 7, 1853
– December 1853 (acting) |
| 6 |  | William T. Wallace |  | American | January 1856
– January 1858 |
| 7 |  | Thomas H. Williams |  | Democratic | 1858
– 1862 |
| 8 |  | Frank M. Pixley |  | Republican | 1862
– 1863 |
| 9 |  | John G. McCullough |  | Republican | 1863
– 1867 |
| 10 |  | Jo Hamilton |  | Democratic | December 5, 1867
– December 8, 1871 |
| 11 |  | John L. Love |  | Republican | 1871
– 1875 |
| 12 |  | Jo Hamilton |  | Democratic | December 9, 1875
– January 8, 1880 |
| 13 |  | Augustus L. Hart |  | Republican | January 8, 1880
– January 10, 1883 |
| 14 |  | Edward C. Marshall |  | Democratic | January 10, 1883
– January 8, 1887 |
| 15 |  | George A. Johnson |  | Democratic | January 8, 1887
– January 8, 1891 |
| 16 |  | William H. H. Hart |  | Republican | January 8, 1891
– January 11, 1895 |
| 17 |  | William F. Fitzgerald |  | Republican | January 7, 1895
– January 2, 1899 |
| 18 |  | Tirey L. Ford |  | Republican | January 4, 1899
– September 14, 1902 |
| 19 |  | Ulysses S. Webb |  | Republican | September 15, 1902
– January 3, 1939 |
| 20 |  | Earl Warren |  | Republican | January 3, 1939
– January 4, 1943 |
| 21 |  | Robert W. Kenny |  | Democratic | January 4, 1943
– January 5, 1947 |
| 22 |  | Frederick N. Howser |  | Republican | January 5, 1947
– January 8, 1951 |
| 23 |  | Pat Brown |  | Democratic | January 8, 1951
– January 5, 1959 |
| 24 |  | Stanley Mosk |  | Democratic | January 5, 1959
– August 31, 1964 |
| 25 |  | Thomas C. Lynch |  | Democratic | August 31, 1964
– January 4, 1971 |
| 26 |  | Evelle J. Younger |  | Republican | January 4, 1971
– January 8, 1979 |
| 27 |  | George Deukmejian |  | Republican | January 8, 1979
– January 3, 1983 |
| 28 |  | John Van de Kamp |  | Democratic | January 3, 1983
– January 7, 1991 |
| 29 |  | Dan Lungren |  | Republican | January 7, 1991
– January 4, 1999 |
| 30 |  | Bill Lockyer |  | Democratic | January 4, 1999
– January 8, 2007 |
| 31 |  | Jerry Brown |  | Democratic | January 8, 2007
– January 3, 2011 |
| 32 |  | Kamala Harris |  | Democratic | January 3, 2011
– January 3, 2017 |
| 33 |  | Xavier Becerra |  | Democratic | January 24, 2017
– March 18, 2021 |
| 34 |  | Rob Bonta |  | Democratic | April 23, 2021
– *Incumbent* |