Former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra has entered the race for California governor, ending months of speculation and rumors.
Becerra joins a crowded field of high profile Democrats, which still awaits a decision from former Vice President Kamala Harris.
Driving the news: Becerra brings decades of experience in public office to the table, getting his start in the Assembly in 1990 before being elected to the House of Representatives in 1992.
- He served in Congress from 1993 to 2017, when he left to become the California Attorney General.
- After four years as the Attorney General – a tenure that saw him repeatedly attack the Trump administration in court – Becerra joined the Biden administration as the Health and Human Services Secretary.
Zoom out: Becerra is the latest in a long list of Democrats who are vying to succeed Gov. Gavin Newsom in 2026.
- Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis was the first to enter the race, getting an early start in April 2023.
- Since then, state Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, former state Controller Betty Yee, former Senate Pro Tem Toni Atkins and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa entered the race, with former Rep. Katie Porter (D–Irvine) the latest to launch a campaign last month.
- So far Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco is the only Republican who will be on the ballot.
What we’re watching: California Democrats are also waiting on a decision from Harris, who will reportedly reveal her future plans by the end of the summer.
- California Attorney General Rob Bonta was rumored to be interested in a campaign of his own, but he decided against one and said he would support Harris if she jumps in.
- Polls have already placed Harris as the favored candidate among Democrats even though she has not entered the race.
What he’s saying: “California is at a crossroads. From housing to healthcare, childcare to college, working families are facing an affordability crisis,” Becerra said in a statement. “The California Dream is slipping away. I’m running for Governor to fight for that dream, to build a stronger, affordable California for everyone, and to take on bullies who get in our way.”
- Becerra added, “Whether defending workers against wage theft or looking out for families in need of a hospital for their kids, standing up for DREAMers or fighting for clean air and water, I’ve always been driven by the California values instilled in me by my parents – a clerical and construction worker, both immigrants to America – who had the chance to earn their dream. Now, it’s time to take on California’s biggest challenges: tackling skyrocketing prices, keeping our streets and businesses safe, and growing the economic pie for the next generation of hardworking Californians.”
