Hilton advises Becerra to withdraw from the California governor’s race following staff controversy.

Scandal Strikes California Gubernatorial Candidate Xavier Becerra

Xavier Becerra faced a wave of criticism from his opponents in the race for California governor after two former staff members admitted guilt in a campaign finance scandal, coinciding with the night of a crucial debate.

On Thursday, the two former employees of Becerra pleaded guilty to misappropriating funds from inactive campaign accounts to enhance their salaries. This raised significant doubts about whether Becerra, who was previously the Health and Human Services Secretary, was aware of or complicit in this breach of federal regulations that prohibit using campaign funds for personal gain.

This guilty plea adds complexity to an already tense political environment for Becerra, considered the leading Democratic candidate to succeed outgoing Governor Gavin Newsom.

During the debate, Steve Hilton, the leading Republican contender in the competitive field, argued that Becerra’s awareness of the scheme should disqualify him from holding office. “Today we learned that he knew about illegal and improper payments,” Hilton asserted. He added, “Honestly, Xavier, it pains me to say this because I personally like you, but you shouldn’t be on this stage. You shouldn’t be in this race. You should prepare for a criminal defense.”

Becerra has firmly denied any wrongdoing, stating, “I did nothing wrong. The incident has been resolved,” before the debate commenced.

The charges against Becerra’s former chief of staff, Sean McCluskey, and political strategist Dana Williamson involve them stealing $225,000 from a dormant campaign fund that Becerra had used in pursuing state office. Prosecutors revealed that from 2022 to 2024, McCluskey and Williamson made withdrawals ranging from $7,500 to $10,000 at a time.

Federal Election Commission rules bar public officials from using campaign contributions for non-election-related expenses. Becerra rebutted Hilton’s claims during the debate, highlighting that his name wasn’t included in the allegations.

Another Democratic candidate in the race, former Congresswoman Katie Porter, suggested that Becerra’s defense didn’t exonerate him. She remarked, “The citation is that your name was not listed on the charging documents. But you know, that doesn’t preclude it.” Her statement hinted at potential unresolved issues regarding Becerra’s involvement.

Becerra, who held significant roles throughout his political career—starting as California’s Deputy Attorney General, followed by time in the California State Assembly, the U.S. House of Representatives, and as California’s Attorney General—now faces critical scrutiny as the primary election approaches.