Xavier Becerra poised to become California’s first Latino governor since 1875

U.S. Health Secretary Xavier Becerra, the son of Mexican immigrants, won the Democratic primary for California governor with about 28 % of the vote, securing his place on the November 2026 ballot. His long career includes service in the state assembly, the U.S. House, as California Attorney General and as a senior member of the Biden administration.

Becerra will face Republican former Fox News host Steve Hilton, who has Donald Trump’s endorsement. If elected, Becerra would be the first Latino governor of the state since Romualdo Pacheco in 1875, a milestone for California’s roughly 40 % Hispanic electorate and a symbolic shift amid national debates on immigration and worker rights.