Xavier Becerra Faces Criticism Over Interview Approach
Xavier Becerra, a Democratic candidate for governor of California, has come under fire after expressing a preference for a “profile” interview over a “jumble” format during a recent chat with local media. “By the way, this is a profile article. This is not a Gotcha article, right?” he asked, seemingly trying to set the tone for the interview.
When questioned by reporters about the likelihood of facing tough inquiries, Becerra persisted in his stance. “Here’s how I would describe my profile: I’ll talk about what I’ve done, what I want to do, and some tough questions. But not just tough questions,” he explained, which reflects tensions emerging in the race to succeed outgoing Governor Gavin Newsom.
It’s an intense time as Becerra, who previously held the position of Secretary of Health and Human Services under President Joe Biden, aims to sharpen his public persona just before California’s open primary, where only the top two candidates will advance to the general election.
Starting as California’s Deputy Attorney General, Becerra transitioned to the California State Assembly and then served in the U.S. House from 1993 to 2017, even becoming the state’s Attorney General before being appointed to lead HHS. Despite a notable career, his pre-interview moments have sparked discussions online among gubernatorial candidates.
“The media has given Mr. Becerra a free pass for so long, but he still has enough skeletons to be feared,” stated Republican candidate Chad Bianco, hinting at the underlying vulnerability Becerra might have.
Interestingly, some Democrats echoed similar sentiments. Matt Mahan, another gubernatorial candidate, remarked, “Solving the problems Californians face is not easy, but answering questions about them certainly should be.” He added, “By the way, part of being governor is answering difficult questions.” These criticisms are underscored by concerns from political observers, including David Axelrod, known for his role in Obama’s presidential campaigns.
Reflecting on Becerra’s moment as HHS Secretary during the pandemic, Axelrod noted that he wasn’t a central figure in communicating pandemic-related updates to the public, which could certainly factor into the current scrutiny.
Looking ahead, California’s primary election is scheduled for June 2nd, with the two leading candidates moving on to the general election on November 3rd.
