Xavier Becerra

Xavier Becerra was born on January 26, 1958, in Sacramento, California, to working-class parents; his mother was born in Jalisco, Mexico, and moved to the United States after marrying his father.⁠[1][2]

When announcing his gubernatorial campaign he said: “My parents came to California with $12 in their pockets.”⁠[3]

He was the first in his family to receive a four-year degree, earning a bachelor of arts in economics from Stanford UniversityStanford UniversityStanford University is a research university in California founded by Leland and Jane Stanford in 1885 and opened in 1891.Open the full entry in 1980 and a Juris Doctor from Stanford Law SchoolStanford Law SchoolStanford Law School is Stanford University’s law school. Its law curriculum began in 1893, and it offers JD and advanced law degrees. Its alumni include technology-media entrepreneur Michael Arrington.Open the full entry in 1984.⁠[2][1]

Becerra began his legal career in 1984 at a legal services office representing people with mental illness; he later practiced law privately, worked on the staff of California State Senator Art Torres in 1986, and was a California deputy attorney general from 1987 to 1990.⁠[2][1]

From 1990 to 1992 he served one term in the California State Assembly, representing the 59th Assembly District in Los Angeles County.⁠[2][4]

Becerra served 12 terms in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1993 to 2017, representing California’s 30th District (1993–2003), 31st District (2003–2013) and 34th District (2013–2017).⁠[4][2]

He was the first Latino to serve on the House Ways and Means Committee, sitting on its Health, Social Security and Oversight subcommittees and serving as ranking member of the Subcommittee on Social Security; he also served on the House Budget Committee and as chairman of the House Democratic Caucus.⁠[2][1]

From 2005 to 2017 he represented the House on the Smithsonian InstitutionSmithsonian InstitutionThe Smithsonian Institution is a museum, education and research institution created by the U.S. Congress in 1846 with the bequest of the English scientist James Smithson. Based in Washington, D.C., it runs museums such as the National Air and Space Museum and the National Museum of Natural History, as well as the National Zoo.Open the full entry Board of Regents and advocated for a National Latino Museum within the Smithsonian.⁠[1]

His campaign website says he worked to help pass the Affordable Care Act while in Congress.⁠[5]

On January 24, 2017, Becerra was sworn in as California’s 33rd attorney general, the first Latino to hold the office in the state’s history; he served until March 2021.⁠[2]

As attorney general he defended the Affordable Care Act before the U.S. Supreme Court and won; his campaign website says he took the Trump administration to court 122 times and “won.”⁠[3][5]

On March 18, 2021, the U.S. Senate confirmed Becerra as secretary of health and human services in the Joe Biden administration by a 50–49 vote; he served until 2025.⁠[4]

His campaign website says that as secretary he expanded health coverage to more than 24 million Americans and lowered costs by “negotiating down prescription drug prices for the first time in American history.”⁠[6][5]

On April 2, 2025, Becerra announced in a written statement that he was running for governor of California, saying: “From housing to healthcare, childcare to college, working families are facing an affordability crisis.”⁠[3]

In the nonpartisan top-two gubernatorial primary on June 2, 2026, Becerra finished first with 28.0% (2,591,857 votes) and Republican Steve HiltonSteve HiltonSteve Hilton is a British-born American Republican politician and political commentator who was a senior adviser to British Prime Minister David Cameron and hosted The Next Revolution on FOX News. He was the Republican nominee in the 2026 California gubernatorial election.Open the full entry second with 24.6% (2,277,318 votes), and both advanced to the November election.⁠[4]

Before the primary Becerra had polled in single digits; after Eric Swalwell ended his campaign, Becerra rose in the polls and narrowly finished ahead of his main Democratic rival, Tom Steyer.⁠[7]

About a minute after polls closed on November 3, 2026, the Associated Press called the gubernatorial race for Becerra over Steve Hilton.⁠[7]

At his election-night party in Sacramento he said: “What a great night to be a Californian.”⁠[7]

Late in the campaign he said he would consider changes to the tax code or tax increases to offset federal health cuts; his proposals also included a free daily hour of electricity for low-income residents and more state funding to fireproof homes.⁠[7]

He is scheduled to take office on January 4, 2027.⁠[4]

Xavier Becerra for Governor: Official website: https://xavierbecerra2026.com/ (opens in a new window).⁠[6]

X: Public account: https://x.com/XavierBecerra (opens in a new window).⁠[6]