SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) 鈥� Democrat Xavier Becerra is counting on his decades-long public career to catapult him into the California governor’s office, but that lengthy political resume has also given his critics fodder to question his competence in the .
Becerra spent more than 35 years in public office, including with a leadership role in the U.S. House, as California’s , and as former President Joe Biden’s .
鈥淭he governor鈥檚 office is not a place with training wheels,鈥� he’s said repeatedly.
That message didn’t appear to resonate with voters during the of Becerra’s campaign. But with voting underway ahead of the June 2 primary, he appears to be benefiting from a dramatic shake-up after from the race. Becerra has since won endorsements from influential labor groups and Latino state leaders, and his once anemic fundraising has swelled. He’s been the prime target of attacks during debates, indicating his Democratic rivals see him as the candidate with momentum.
Some observers say Democrats are gravitating to Becerra as a perceived safe choice.
鈥淗e has this breadth of experience that none of the other candidates have,鈥� said Matt Barreto, faculty director of the University of California, Los Angeles, Voting Rights Project, which Becerra partnered with in a recent lawsuit. 鈥淲hat that means is that he has the ability to portray himself to the voters as having been through the fight.鈥�
But some Biden administration alumni have questioned Becerra鈥檚 record as health and human services secretary. His rivals have spotlighted the of Becerra’s former chief of staff, who pleaded guilty to stealing Becerra’s campaign funds. Though Becerra hasn’t been implicated, Democratic Katie Porter this week called him 鈥渢oo much of a risk.鈥�
Becerra has dismissed criticism as campaign mudslinging.
鈥淲e鈥檙e going to talk about the truth and we鈥檙e going to move forward,” he told reporters this week.
Becerra’s campaign promises
Becerra points to his role as California’s attorney general during President Donald Trump’s first term to cast himself as an experienced fighter against an imposing federal government. He was at the center of the state’s emergence as the so-called resistance, filing more than on everything from immigration to climate policy.
Several voters at a recent Becerra rally in Sacramento pointed to his roles in various levels of government as reason to support him.
Becerra 鈥渒nows how to navigate through the complexities of running a government,鈥� said Ruben Hoyos, who voted for Becerra despite being more aligned with ‘s progressive platform.
Like his rivals, he’s made affordability a central piece of his platform. Becerra has promised to declare a state of emergency to deal with the high costs of living and housing shortages. He says that would allow him to freeze home insurance rates as Californians struggle to obtain or as the state deals with worsening wildfires.
Most candidates running for insurance commissioner argue a governor can’t legally do that because the insurance industry is regulated by an elected commissioner. Becerra insists he would have that authority.
鈥淚鈥檇 be willing to go to court to tell you that I could call that freeze,” Becerra said in a recent debate.
In Congress, he helped pass the Affordable Care Act and defended it against Republican attacks as California鈥檚 attorney general. He鈥檚 also known for championing abortion rights and has the endorsement of Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California.
But after previously supporting eliminating private health insurance in favor of a government-run system, he has appeared to change his position. Pressed by rivals to give a clear stance, he said he’s focused on getting more people covered.
鈥淐alifornians don鈥檛 care what you call it, so long as they have affordable health care,” he said.
Health secretary record under a spotlight
Becerra’s tenure as the federal health secretary has been under a microscope.
Steyer has repeatedly hit Becerra over his handling of the influx of who arrived at the U.S.-Mexico border in 2021, most fleeing violence, poverty or the effects of natural disasters in Central America.
The children were processed in tents before being taken to emergency shelters run by the Department of Health and Human Services, some of which were criticized by child welfare advocates as having . They would then be placed with a family member, relative or sponsor.
A in 2023 found that the health department failed to thoroughly vet sponsors, and many of the children went on to work exploitative jobs. It also found Becerra pushed to move children through the system faster and that the agency could not reach tens of thousands of minors after they left federal care. Steyer has argued the federal government 鈥渓ost鈥� children on Becerra’s watch. Historically, the federal government unaccompanied children once they are released to the care of an adult.
Becerra has called the criticism 鈥淭rump talking points.鈥� Some California immigrant rights groups and members of the Biden administration have defended Becerra’s record.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, meanwhile, Becerra was largely out of the spotlight, with others like Dr. Anthony Fauci acting as a face of the administration.
Xochitl Hinojosa, a former spokesperson in Biden’s Department of Justice, said on CNN earlier this month that she did not have faith in Becerra鈥檚 leadership abilities.
鈥淗e was not effective in government,” she said.
Outreach to Latinos
The race to replace terming-out Gov. Gavin 小萝莉影视om has been unsettled, with top state Democrats urging lower polling candidates to drop out of the race. That initially included Becerra.
But after Swalwell’s scandal, Becerra’s campaign has highlighted his understated demeanor in an effort to appeal to voters looking for a drama-free choice.
Becerra embraced TikTok early When Becerra and other candidates of color were excluded from a planned debate due to low polling and fundraising, Latino creator Jay Gonzalez invited them to speak to his followers. Becerra took him up. Gonzalez has since been hired by the campaign. Other creators are encouraging their followers to back Becerra and showing up at his rallies. Some of Becerra’s social media refers to him as 鈥淭铆o Xavier,” which is Spanish for 鈥淯ncle Xavier,鈥� portraying him as a familiar face voters can trust.
Working to mobilize Latinos 鈥� the largest ethnic group in California 鈥� could be a worthwhile strategy, said Kim Nalder, director of the Project for an Informed Electorate at California State University, Sacramento. Becerra, if elected, would be California’s first Latino governor since the late 1800s.
鈥淭here鈥檚 some evidence that folks 鈥� if they have choices that are close like in a primary 鈥� will choose based on identity groups, sometimes,” she said.
Copyright © 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.
