As California faces a pivotal turning point, voters are being inundated by a crowded field of candidates for Governor, backed by unprecedented amounts of corporate money and glossy, billionaire-funded social media campaigns. 

But the Governor’s office is not an entry-level job, nor is it a vanity project for the ultra-wealthy. It requires a tested leader who understands the mechanics of government and has spent decades fighting in the trenches for working-class families, immigrants, and the underserved.

The choice is clear: Former California Attorney General and U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra is the champion California needs.

Xavier Becerra’s story is the definition of the California Dream. The son of working-class immigrants—his mother came from Guadalajara and his father worked in construction—Becerra was the first in his family to graduate from college, earning both a Bachelors Degree in Economics and a law degree from Stanford University. Xavier has never forgotten where he came from.

Throughout his 24 years in the U.S. House of Representatives, Becerra was a relentless advocate for comprehensive immigration reform, labor rights, and equitable funding for public education. He rose to become the Chair of the House Democratic Caucus, consistently using his platform to protect the safety net for working-class families.

When California needed a defender against the hostile policies of the federal government, Becerra stepped up as our Attorney General. He filed over 100 lawsuits to protect California’s landmark environmental laws, safeguard the rights of immigrant communities, and defend the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

Becerra didn't just talk about resistance; he codified it in the courts. He protected participants in DACA, stood up for workers' rights, and fought predatory corporations that attempted to exploit vulnerable consumers.

His subsequent tenure as the federal HHS Secretary proved his ability to manage massive public health systems and advocate for healthcare equity on the national stage. He knows how to make big bureaucracy work for everyday people.

Every campaign has its challenges, and this race is no exception. Opponents have tried to use a recent campaign finance scandal involving a former independent aide to attack Becerra's integrity. But let us look at the facts: Becerra himself has not been implicated in any wrongdoing, and he has rightly called the actions of that former adviser a "gut punch" to the values of public service.

While billionaire opponents pour hundreds of millions of dollars into non-disclosed influencer campaigns to buy this election, Becerra continues to stand on his actual record of public service. We prefer a leader tested by the realities of public governance over a billionaire testing the limits of their checkbook.

California faces massive structural challenges: an affordable housing crisis, an evolving green economy that must protect displaced workers, and the ongoing struggle to fully fund our public neighborhood services. We need a Governor who doesn't need on-the-job training.

Xavier Becerra has the background, the legal brilliance, and the deep-rooted cultural understanding necessary to lead all Californians forward. 

La Prensa San Diego proudly endorses Xavier Becerra for Governor.