diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 9e64d357..be0a3b5e 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 
 [1]: https://pypi.org/project/google-api-core/#history
 
-## [2.19.0](https://github.com/googleapis/python-api-core/compare/v2.18.0...v2.19.0) (2024-04-29)
+## [2.19.0rc0](https://github.com/googleapis/python-api-core/compare/v2.18.0...v2.19.0rc0) (2024-04-29)
 
 
 ### Features
diff --git a/google/api_core/version.py b/google/api_core/version.py
index 2605c08a..05f90a56 100644
--- a/google/api_core/version.py
+++ b/google/api_core/version.py
@@ -12,4 +12,4 @@
 # See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 # limitations under the License.
 
-__version__ = "2.19.0"
+__version__ = "2.19.0rc0"