Xavier Becerra, the well being and human providers secretary, is reportedly contemplating leaving his submit to run for California governor.
Becerra has mentioned in non-public conversations his want to go away Washington in November and be a part of an already crowded subject of candidates to succeed Gavin Newsom as governor, Politico reported, citing nameless sources.
Becerra’s workplace didn’t instantly reply to requests for remark.
If he enters the 2026 governor’s race, Becerra shall be dealing with off in opposition to a number of fellow Democrats and colleagues, together with lieutenant governor Eleni Kounalakis, former California senate president professional tempore Toni Atkins, and state superintendent of public instruction Tony Thurmond. Present California lawyer normal Rob Bonta can be anticipated to announce a run.
Previous to taking his submit as well being and human providers secretary, Becerra was California’s lawyer normal. He’s the primary Latino to carry each posts. Earlier than that, he served within the US Home of Representatives for 26 years. Within the Biden administration, he had a task overseeing the Covid-19 response, together with the vaccine rollout.
Becerra’s critics have decried his lack of public well being coaching and expertise; he’s an lawyer by coaching and a long-time politician who helped go the Reasonably priced Care Act into legislation. However he has nonetheless carved out a task in defending and selling the administration’s insurance policies to decrease drug costs and shield the fitting to abortion.
In current weeks, he has made visits throughout the nation highlighting the Biden administration’s reproductive rights agenda earlier than the 2024 election.
“No girl right now ought to worry [not having] entry to the care that she wants. President Biden has made that clear,” Becerra informed supporters in Florida final week. He characterised Florida governor Ron DeSantis’s six-week abortion ban as “medical apartheid”.
Becerra sidestepped questions on a gubernatorial run. “It’s a blessing to listen to that somebody is saying that I’m operating for governor as a result of I don’t know who they’re,” he informed Politico. “I’m secretary of HHS and, by legislation, I’ve to be secretary of HHS and nothing else. So I’m gonna do my job as finest I can. It’s a thrill – I believe my mother could be comfortable to listen to that somebody thinks I can run for governor as effectively.”
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