Becerra's surge in California governor race draws fresh scrutiny to candidacy, long government record

Key Points:

• Xavier Becerra, a seasoned Latino politician with over 30 years of experience, has surged in the California governor’s race after rival Eric Swalwell dropped out amid scandal, gaining significant grassroots Latino support against wealthy competitors like Tom Steyer.
• Becerra’s political career includes serving as California attorney general, where he sued the Trump administration over 120 times, and as U.S. Health and Human Services secretary, overseeing the COVID-19 response and managing an influx of unaccompanied immigrant minors.
• While praised for his leadership and experience, Becerra faces criticism over his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, accusations of inadequate oversight in the release of migrant children, and a scandal involving his former chief of staff’s fraud conviction, though he was not implicated.
• Experts highlight Becerra’s deep political background as a strength in a crowded race lacking household names, emphasizing the historic significance of potentially electing California’s first Latino governor amid ongoing national anti-immigrant policies.
• Becerra positions himself as a pragmatic, experienced leader prepared to navigate the challenges of the Trump era, contrasting himself with rivals by emphasizing steady governance over showmanship.