Xavier Becerra Enters California Gubernatorial Race Amidst Uncertainty
Xavier Becerra, previously the health secretary under President Joe Biden, has officially thrown his hat into the ring for California’s gubernatorial race, irrespective of whether Vice President Kamala Harris decides to pursue the same position. This decision comes after a year of contemplation on his part, as he formally announced his candidacy through a succinct video shared exclusively with POLITICO.
In a straightforward, direct-to-camera address, Becerra reflected on his upbringing, stating, “I watched my parents — a construction worker and a clerical worker — achieve the California dream. Can we do that today, with this affordability crisis? Very tough. But we’ve taken on these tough fights. … We can do that, but you need a leader who can be tough.” This message underscores his commitment to addressing the state’s ongoing challenges.
Becerra’s entry into the race adds a new layer of intrigue to what has been a relatively stagnant contest, as both Democrats and their affluent backers have waited to see if Harris would join the fray. In recent weeks, however, the political landscape has begun to shift, highlighted by former Rep. Katie Porter’s campaign launch last month and increasing criticisms from other potential candidates directed at Harris regarding her delayed decision-making.
Importantly, Becerra’s campaign has made it clear that he has no intention of withdrawing should Harris, the Democratic nominee for president in 2024, choose to run for governor. In his campaign approach, the 67-year-old is neither firmly positioning himself as a progressive nor a centrist Democrat; instead, he aims to frame the election as a referendum on experience, advocating for his proven ability to lead California effectively and challenge former President Donald Trump, whom he famously sued over 120 times during his tenure as attorney general.
Interestingly, the timing of Becerra’s campaign launch coincides with significant personnel changes at the Health and Human Services Department, which he previously led. Recently, he has criticized these firings as a “man-made disaster,” illustrating his continued engagement with the issues he once managed.
As a centerpiece of his campaign, Becerra intends to highlight his leadership at HHS, where he oversaw a workforce of over 85,000. Despite facing criticism for the administration’s handling of migrant children and the COVID-19 pandemic, he found success in bolstering the Affordable Care Act and advocating for abortion rights. Notably, there were indications that many Democrats anticipated Becerra would not retain his position in a hypothetical second Biden term.
Before joining the Biden administration, Becerra spent over three decades in public service, beginning in the California Legislature and subsequently serving as a long-standing House member representing downtown Los Angeles. His political journey saw him ascend to significant roles, including membership on the powerful Ways and Means Committee, and he was a key player in negotiations for comprehensive immigration reform during the Obama era, an initiative that ultimately faltered.
Appointed as California’s attorney general by then-Gov. Jerry Brown in 2017, Becerra became the face of California’s legal resistance against Trump’s administration. However, despite his extensive experience, he remains relatively unknown among California voters, with public and private polling placing him in the mid-single digits.
Yet, Becerra has demonstrated electoral strength, securing nearly 7.8 million votes in his 2018 attorney general race—outperforming Gavin Newsom’s gubernatorial bid in the same year. As he aims to become California’s first Latino governor in 150 years, Becerra’s candidacy could engage the crucial, albeit inconsistent, Latino voting bloc, a demographic that represents a plurality of the state’s population. However, he faces competition from fellow Latino candidates, including former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and state schools chief Tony Thurmond, which could dilute the community’s electoral impact.
The dynamics between Becerra and Villaraigosa will be particularly fascinating due to their overlapping political histories, both having established their bases in Los Angeles—a region that has historically posed challenges for statewide ambitions. Their previous mayoral campaigns in 2001 saw Villaraigosa emerge as a frontrunner, while Becerra attracted a mere 5 percent of the vote, a stark contrast that raises questions about his current strategy.
Becerra’s campaign team is composed of seasoned political operatives, including Kyle Layman, a Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee veteran, as his general consultant, and Emma Harris, who previously managed a successful campaign for a House seat in northern Los Angeles County. With a robust fundraising team and media consultants prepared to amplify his message, Becerra is banking on his extensive political experience to resonate with a broader audience than his fellow Angeleno contenders.
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Correction: A previous version of this story misstated the proportion of California’s population that is Latino.
