39.5 million Californians now have a new governor

Xavier Becerra won the California governor’s race, according to Associated Press projections. He defeated Republican challenger Steve Hilton. The victory puts a son of immigrants in charge of a state with 39.5 million residents. Approximately 40% of California’s population is of Hispanic origin.

Becerra was born in Sacramento in January 1958. His mother, Maria Teresa, immigrated from Jalisco, Mexico. His father, Manuel, worked in agriculture and was born in Sacramento. During a debate in September, Becerra described how his father grew up in Tijuana. Manuel Becerra returned to the United States at age 12 with only 12 dollars in his pocket.

The new governor graduated from C. K. McClatchy High School in Sacramento in 1976. He then attended Stanford University, where he earned two bachelor’s degrees in 1980. He studied Arts and Economics. He later received a law degree from Stanford Law School. His career focused on law and public administration.

In the early 1990s, Becerra served as an assistant attorney general in the California Department of Justice. He then represented the 59th District in the state legislature. In 1993, he joined the U.S. House of Representatives. He served for 24 years representing districts near Los Angeles. His work in Congress covered fiscal policy, health, immigration, and civil rights.

In 2017, he became California’s attorney general. He was the first Latino to lead the state Department of Justice. As attorney general, his office filed legal challenges against federal regulatory and immigration measures. In 2021, President Joe Biden appointed him Secretary of Health and Human Services. He served in that federal cabinet role until 2025.

Becerra announced his candidacy for governor in 2024. His campaign focused on housing, health care, and wages. He proposed using state funds to restart residential projects with existing permits. He also proposed expanding public health coverage for people under 65. He sought to review the state minimum wage of $16.90 per hour based on local living costs.

His campaign faced criticism regarding his background. Opponents noted that his father was born in the United States. Becerra argued that his father’s displacement was part of Mexican migration history. He cited exclusion processes from that era. The election took place in California, which the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis ranked as the fifth-largest economy in the world in 2023.

The state economy includes technology, entertainment, agriculture, and energy sectors. Becerra’s agenda will include housing, cost of living, and infrastructure. He also plans to address the state’s relationship with Mexico. He will serve a four-year term. His administration will manage a population with a 41% Latino representation.