{"id":2595228,"date":"2026-04-26T06:45:01","date_gmt":"2026-04-26T10:45:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/becerra-gains-momentum-in-california-governors-race\/"},"modified":"2026-04-26T06:46:32","modified_gmt":"2026-04-26T10:46:32","slug":"becerra-gains-momentum-in-california-governors-race","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/becerra-gains-momentum-in-california-governors-race\/","title":{"rendered":"Becerra gains momentum in California governor&#8217;s race"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">14<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fbecerra-gains-momentum-in-california-governors-race%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2595228&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Xavier Becerra, a Democrat and former U.S. Health and Human Services secretary, is gaining momentum in California\u2019s crowded governor race, especially after Eric Swalwell exited amid allegations of sexual misconduct. Becerra\u2019s campaign says it has surged with fundraising-20,000 donations in 10 days, 97% from first-time donors-and endorsements have followed from Democratic lawmakers including Assembly Speaker robert Rivas, who says Becerra is best positioned to counter President Donald Trump\u2019s policies.<\/p>\n<p>Earlier,Becerra had been stuck in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/democrat-gov-gretchen-whitmer-allegedly-traveled-to-florida-before-expressing-concern-about-traveling-to-fl\/\" title=\"... Gov. Gretchen Whitmer Allegedly Traveled To Florida Before Expressing \u2018Concern\u2019 About Traveling To FL\">low single digits<\/a> to succeed term-limited Gov. Gavin Newsom, but Swalwell\u2019s departure reshaped the field and helped Becerra rise among democratic voters, gaining about 15 points. Still, the race remains competitive within the party: Democrats are split among Becerra, Tom Steyer, Katie Porter, and San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan.Strategists argue Steyer and Porter may have limited ceiling-though concerns persist that remaining candidates could keep the vote divided and potentially hurt democrats in the all-party primary.<\/p>\n<p>Republicans-including Steve Hilton, a former Fox News host, and Sheriff Chad Bianco-are described as overall front-runners. California\u2019s primary is set for June 2, with a runoff on Nov. 3 if no one reaches 50%, a scenario Democrats worry could allow Republicans to take both top spots. The article also notes former state controller Betty Yee has already suspended her campaign, and that Newsom has been reluctant to intervene directly.<\/p>\n<p>In the run-up to a Wednesday debate featuring the top six candidates,Trump has endorsed Hilton,while Becerra criticized multiple Democratic rivals for lacking executive governing experience,pitching himself as prepared based on his work as attorney general and in federal health policy.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/xavier-becerra\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"1719\">Xavier Becerra<\/a>, a Democrat who served as former President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/joe-biden\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"471\">Joe Biden\u2019s <\/a>Health and Human Services secretary, is gaining new traction in <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/california\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"60\">California\u2019s <\/a>crowded race for governor. <\/p>\n<p>His catapult\u00a0to the top tier came after former Rep. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/eric-swalwell\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"2345\">Eric Swalwell\u2019s<\/a> epic fall from grace earlier this month following allegations of sexual assault and misconduct. <\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/4542662\/california-republican-carl-demaio-signatures-voter-id-amendment-2026-ballot\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>California Republican gets enough support to put voter ID amendment on ballot<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/4540011\/five-takeaways-california-gubernatorial-debate\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Five takeaways from the California gubernatorial debate<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/4539372\/spanberger-virginia-redistricting-win-approval-rating\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Spanberger claims major redistricting victory despite sinking poll numbers<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p>Becerra had been stuck in the low single digits as he sought to succeed term-limited Gov. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/gavin-newsom\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"1426\">Gavin Newsom<\/a> (D-CA) in a race that at one point featured as many as 60 candidates. Swalwell\u2019s departure reshaped the field, injecting new momentum into Becerra\u2019s campaign and boosting his fundraising. His team says it has pulled in 20,000 donations over the past 10 days, with 97% from first-time contributors.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Xavier Becerra, a candidate in California\u2019s gubernatorial race, speaks during a <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >gubernatorial debate hosted<\/a> by Nexstar on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, in San Francisco. (Jason Henry\/Pool Photo via AP)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Endorsements have followed. State Assembly Speaker\u00a0Robert Rivas\u00a0and 14 other Democratic lawmakers backed Becerra, with Rivas arguing he is best positioned to protect California from President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"4\">Donald Trump\u2019s<\/a> policies. Becerra, who served as California attorney general from 2017 to 2021, built a national profile during that time by filing 122 lawsuits against Trump\u2019s first administration.<\/p>\n<p>Democrats remain divided among Becerra, billionaire <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/tom-steyer\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"2792\">Tom Steyer<\/a>, former Rep. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/katie-porter\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"10247\">Katie Porter<\/a>, and San Jose Mayor <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/in_focus\/4530620\/california-democrats-cannot-field-a-candidate\/\" type=\"post\" id=\"4530620\">Matt Mahan <\/a>ahead of the June 2 primary. Without Swalwell on the ballot, Becerra has gained 15 points among Democratic voters \u2014 an uptick that has not been matched by Steyer or Porter.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s pretty clear that Steyer and Porter have essentially hit their ceilings,\u201d Veteran political strategist Garry South\u00a0told the <em>Washington\u00a0Examiner<\/em>.\u00a0\u201cDespite spending north of $130 million dollars \u2014 way more than has ever been spent in a California primary \u2014 Steyer is still in the teens. And Porter has seen the biggest decline in the polls since the beginning of any candidate, and has no money to fuel a rise.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>South credited Becerra\u2019s campaign for running \u201ca smart campaign, emphasizing his service as attorney general, all the times he sued Trump in the first term, and his stint as HHS secretary. Democrats have obviously taken to his message as a Trump fighter, and leading the federal agency dealing with health care, still a top issue for Democrats.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>But Democratic strategist Seamus Love cautioned that the race is far from settled.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAs long as\u00a0Katie Porter and Matt Mahan stay in the field, Becerra is crowded by other establishment Democrats,\u201d he told the <em>Washington\u00a0Examiner<\/em>. \u201cEven if they drop out, I believe Steyer has staying power\u2013 both financially and through his platform.\u00a0Steyer\u2019s background might seem out of touch with everyday Californians, but his message is spot on with where the Democratic party is heading into the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/2026-election\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"11675\">midterms<\/a>\u2013 a swing toward a more progressive vision.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Despite Becerra\u2019s gains, Republicans <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/premium\/4526352\/swalwell-collapse-creates-opening-new-democratic-resistance-leader\/\" type=\"post\" id=\"4526352\">Steve Hilton<\/a>, a former Fox News host, and Riverside Sheriff\u00a0Chad Bianco remain the overall front-runners.<\/p>\n<p>California\u2019s all-party primary is June 2. If no candidate clears 50%, the top two finishers will advance to a Nov. 3 runoff \u2014 a scenario that has worried Democrats, who fear a splintered field could hand both slots to Republicans.<\/p>\n<p>State party chairman Rusty Hicks reiterated that concern this week. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cBallots are in the hands of voters in roughly two weeks, and the clock is ticking for candidates to do what is best for California in this historic moment,\u201d he said. Hicks had previously asked for candidates to \u201ctake an honest look at the viability of their campaigns,\u201d especially those still in the single digits. On Monday, former state controller Betty\u00a0Yee announced she was suspending her campaign. Yee, who had pitched herself in recent days as the anti-drama or \u201cboring Betty\u201d candidate,\u00a0 lagged in fundraising and failed to connect with voters. <\/p>\n<p>Newsom, who is expected to run for <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/2028-elections\/\">president in 2028<\/a>, has been reluctant to throw his support behind a candidate in the primary, despite being urged by party supporters to step in or at least impose some order in a race that risks becoming chaotic.<\/p>\n<p>Trump\u00a0has already endorsed Hilton,\u00a0posting on social media that he had known the London-born-and-raised Hilton for years and called the conservative commentator \u201ca truly fine man\u201d who could turn around a state beset with notoriously high taxes. California, Trump wrote, \u201chas gone to hell.\u201d\u00a0Trump also highlighted many of the state\u2019s problems and blamed Newsom for each of them. He <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-endorses-steve-hilton-for-california-governor-while-blasting-newsom-as-doing-a-horrendous-job\/\" title=\"Trump endorses Steve ... for California governor while blasting ... as doing a &#039;horrendous job&#039;\">emphasized high crime rates<\/a> and taxes and noted that Californians are relocating to other states to escape those burdens. <\/p>\n<p>The state\u2019s last Republican governor was Arnold Schwarzenegger, who left office in 2011.<\/p>\n<p>At a 90-minute debate Wednesday featuring the top six candidates, Becerra leaned on a line from his latest ad \u2014 \u201cthe governor\u2019s office is no place for on-the-job training\u201d \u2014 aimed at Steyer, who is tied with him in the latest party poll despite never holding elected office, as well as Hilton.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s interesting to watch someone who has served as a talking head on a Fox News program telling us how government should run when he never has run any government in his life,\u201d Becerra said.<\/p>\n<p>He also targeted Porter after she criticized his plans as lacking in detail. <\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4539959\/first-california-gubernatorial-debate-after-swalwell-exit\/\" type=\"post\" id=\"4539959\">GAS PRICES, AFFORDABILITY, AND TRUMP DISCUSSED IN FIRST CALIFORNIA GUBERNATORIAL DEBATE AFTER SWALWELL EXIT<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat\u2019s very rich to hear from someone who\u2019s never had to actually run a government,\u201d he said, adding that he has managed budgets larger than the state\u2019s. <\/p>\n<p>Porter served three terms in Congress. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Xavier Becerra gains momentum in California governor race after Swalwell\u2019s exit<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2646,"featured_media":2595229,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/AP26113136810431.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[24665,37666,6571,40275,13710],"class_list":["post-2595228","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-becerra","tag-california-politics","tag-elections","tag-gubernatorial-race","tag-momentum"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/AP26113136810431.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2595228","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2646"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2595228"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2595228\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2595232,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2595228\/revisions\/2595232"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2595229"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2595228"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2595228"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2595228"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}