SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) 鈥� Democrat advanced to the general election for California governor Friday after pitching himself as an experienced choice to lead the nation鈥檚 most populous state and succeed Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom.
Becerra leaned on his more than 35 years in public office 鈥� including as state attorney general and U.S. health secretary 鈥� to argue that he was the most qualified candidate in a crowded field.
鈥淭he people of the great state of California, in the greatest nation on earth, have spoken 鈥� loudly and proudly,鈥� Becerra said in a statement. 鈥淲e are never backing down. November, here we come.鈥�
It was not yet clear who Becerra will face in the general election. His top rivals came down to Republican Steve Hilton, a former Fox News commentator backed by President Donald Trump, and Democrat Tom Steyer, a billionaire climate activist who poured $215 million of his own money into his campaign.
Born and raised in Sacramento by Mexican immigrant parents, Becerra has a wife and three daughters. He has said his family鈥檚 immigrant background mirrored his 鈥渦nderdog鈥� gubernatorial campaign, in which he initially failed to garner substantial support before surging in the final months.
After one of the top Democratic contenders, Rep. Eric Swalwell, was accused of sexual assault and dropped out of the race, Becerra benefited from an opening to coalesce Democratic support. He quickly racked up key endorsements from labor groups and Latino legislative leaders.
Becerra has vowed to maintain the state鈥檚 mantle as a chief antagonist to President Donald Trump. As attorney general he filed more than against the first Trump administration on everything from immigration to climate policy.
The president has also been in a spat with the state over its drawn-out vote count. Trump made baseless claims mass fraud Thursday, and on Friday federal prosecutors said they into allegations of election fraud. Hilton called for California to limit mail ballots to those who request them, rather sending them to all registered voters.
During the campaign Becerra’s rivals scrutinized his leadership as health secretary during the COVID-19 pandemic and in 2021, when Becerra鈥檚 Department of Health and Human Services was responsible for shelters where they were housed. Some of them were criticized as having , and there were also concerns about authorities failing to thoroughly vet sponsors with whom some children were placed.
If elected, Becerra said, he would declare states of emergency to address high energy costs and housing shortages and to freeze home insurance rates.
Though California is one of the nation鈥檚 most diverse states, almost all its governors have been white men. Becerra would be the first Latino to hold the office since the late 1800s.
Newsom was barred by term limits from seeking a third stint in office.
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