Xavier Becerra, a Democrat, is running for California governor in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election. He faces Republican Steve Hilton.
Becerra, a Sacramento native, served 24 years in the U.S. House of Representatives and later became California's attorney general and U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services. His campaign website lists housing affordability, healthcare costs, energy oversight and disaster preparedness as priorities.
The policy positions below are drawn from Becerra's campaign website and social media responses. They represent the candidate's own statements.
Candidate information
- Party: Democratic
- Born: Jan. 26, 1958, Sacramento
- Education: Bachelor's degree in economics, Stanford University, 1980; study abroad, University of Salamanca; juris doctor, Stanford University, 1984
- Family background: Son of Mexican immigrant parents; first in his family to graduate from college
- Notable endorsements (claimed by endorsers): California Chamber of Commerce, AFL-CIO, AFSCME Local 3299, California Young Democrats, Planned Parenthood of San Diego, Riverside, Imperial, Heart of LA Democratic Club, Riverside County Democrats, CHIRAL Action Fund
Experience and public service
- Attorney, Legal Services Agency, 1984–1987
- Administrative assistant, Office of State Senator Art Torres, 1986–1987
- Deputy attorney general, California, 1987–1990
- California State Assembly member, 59th District, 1990–1992
- U.S. representative from California, 1993–2017
- Chair, House Democratic Caucus, 2013–2017
- California attorney general, 2017–2021 (first Latino to hold the office, according to Wikipedia)
- U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, 2021–2025 (first Latino to hold the office, according to Wikipedia)
During his term as attorney general, Becerra filed 122 lawsuits against the first Trump administration, according to Wikipedia.
On the issues
Housing
Becerra said on his campaign website that he would "treat housing like the essential infrastructure it is." He said he would push to increase housing production by cutting unnecessary red tape and speeding approvals for projects that meet affordability and environmental standards. He also said he would invest in affordable housing, protect renters from unfair evictions and rent increases, and help first-time buyers get a fair shot at homeownership.
Healthcare
Becerra said on his campaign website that he has advocated for single-payer healthcare since his early years in Congress. He said he believes universal coverage is possible but wants to pursue immediate gains, including cost-containment strategies and reducing disparities in care access, while building toward a unified system. He said he would strengthen the Medi-Cal program for the state's most vulnerable families and find targeted cost-relief programs for middle-income families.
Energy and utilities
Becerra said on his campaign website that bill affordability would be central to his energy policy, especially for low- and middle-income families. He called for stronger oversight of utilities and said climate action must be "affordable, reliable, and fair."
Disaster preparedness
Becerra said on his campaign website that he would shift California from reacting after disasters to preventing harm before they happen. He said he would seek investments in wildfire prevention, flood control and seismic retrofits, and strengthen early warning systems and evacuation planning across languages, abilities and income levels.
Artificial intelligence
Becerra wrote on X that California should "continue to accelerate our lead on AI safety." He called for "real guardrails on companies racing toward superintelligence before anyone's proven they can control it."
Endorsements
Xavier Becerra’s campaign lists endorsements from Gavin Newsom, Kamala Harris, Adam Schiff, Alex Padilla, Rob Bonta and numerous state legislators and local officials. Organizational supporters include the California Democratic Party, California Chamber of Commerce, California Medical Association, California YIMBY, Equality California and Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California.
Labor endorsements reported by the campaign include SEIU California, the California Teachers Association, California Professional Firefighters, United Farm Workers, the California School Employees Association and the State Building and Construction Trades Council of California. The list also names Democratic clubs, education leaders and environmental justice advocates across the state.
