Xavier BecerraCandidate

Xavier Becerra

State HouseDemocrat

CA-Governor State House

Age 68·Mexican-American·U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services (2021-2025)

Why This Race Matters

Xavier Becerra is running against Antonio Villaraigosa (D), Katie Porter (D), Eleni Kounalakis (D), Toni Atkins (D), Tony Thurmond (D), Betty Yee (D), Steve Hilton (R), and 20+ others.

If elected, Becerra would be California's first Latino Governor since Romualdo Pacheco in 1875. The crowded Democratic primary features two prominent Latino candidates—Becerra and Villaraigosa—competing for the state's largest demographic group. California's top-two primary system creates risk that two Republicans could advance to the general election if Democrats split votes.

Becerra started 2026 with $3.8 million cash on hand, among the highest for Democrats. Villaraigosa has launched attack ads against him. Recent polls show no Democrat above 15% with 44% undecided. Becerra is actively courting Latino voters via Spanish-language TikTok content.

Key dates to watch: Primary on June 2, 2026 and General Election on November 3, 2026.

About

Xavier Becerra is running for Governor of California in 2026 after serving as the first Latino U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services under President Biden (2021-2025). Born and raised in Sacramento as the son of Mexican immigrants, he was the first in his family to attend a four-year university, earning degrees from Stanford. He previously served as California's first Latino Attorney General (2017-2021) and represented Los Angeles in Congress for 24 years (1993-2017). His campaign centers on restoring the "California Dream" through affordable housing, healthcare access, and protecting immigrant rights.

Family & Heritage

Son of Mexican immigrants from Jalisco who came to California with $12 in their pockets. His father Manuel worked in road construction, his mother Maria Teresa was a clerical worker. First in his family to graduate from a four-year university. Married to Dr. Carolina Reyes, a physician who is also first-generation college graduate. They have three daughters.

Political Career

Before Politics

Deputy Attorney General, California Department of Justice; Legal Aid attorney serving low-income communities

Education

B.A. in Economics, Stanford University (1980); studied abroad at University of Salamanca, Spain (1978-1979); J.D., Stanford Law School (1984)

Key Issues & Priorities

*Healthcare access and affordability (wants to be the "healthcare governor")
*Housing affordability and rent stabilization
*Defending California's sanctuary state laws against federal overreach
*Immigration rights and protecting immigrant families
*Economic opportunity for working families
*Childcare and college affordability

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