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-Editorial
Former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra announced his candidacy for governor of California on April 2nd, joining an increasingly crowded race to succeed Governor Gavin Newsom in 2026. Becerra, a former state attorney general and longtime congressman, framed his campaign around addressing the state’s affordability crisis, which he described as a major threat to the California Dream.
“California is at a crossroads,” Becerra said in a campaign announcement video. “From housing to healthcare, childcare to college, working families face an affordability crisis. The California Dream is slipping away.”
Becerra, the son of Mexican immigrants, highlighted his background as a testament to the opportunities California once provided to working-class families. “I watched my parents — a construction worker and a clerical worker — achieve the California Dream,” he said. “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.”
A veteran of state and federal politics, Becerra’s career has focused on issues such as healthcare access, immigrant rights, and workers’ protections. In his announcement, he underscored his record of defending workers from wage theft, advocating for DREAMers, and supporting environmental protections.
“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,” Becerra said.
Becerra, 66, enters the race with name recognition and deep political experience but will face stiff competition from other Democratic contenders. He is expected to contend with figures such as Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis, State Superintendent Tony Thurmond, and possibly Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass.
Vice President Kamala Harris has been rumored as a potential candidate for governor of California, though she has not made any official announcement regarding a bid.
Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, an outspoken supporter of former President Donald Trump, has been critical of Democratic policies in the state, particularly focusing on issues such as homelessness, housing affordability, and public safety.
The California gubernatorial primary is set for March 2026, with the top two candidates advancing to the general election in November.