Xavier Becerra, a candidate for governor in California, has seen a rise in his approval ratings, particularly after former Representative Eric Swalwell exited the race amid allegations of sexual misconduct. A new poll indicates that Becerra’s support among Democrats increased from around 4-5% to 10% following Swalwell’s departure.
Becerra, at 67, has leveraged his background as a former California attorney general and his current role as Secretary of Health and Human Services under President Biden. In a recent campaign message, he emphasized the pressing need for trustworthy leadership in California.
“I’ve managed one of the largest federal agencies in the U.S.,” he remarked, highlighting the department’s pandemic response and the successful vaccine distribution. He also noted, perhaps somewhat boastfully, that he’s balanced a budget larger than California’s state budget.
Despite Becerra’s self-portrayal as a seasoned candidate, detractors argue his time at HHS has been fraught with challenges. Critics pointed out that during his first year, he notably missed key White House briefings on the coronavirus and remained relatively low-key during the monkeypox outbreak in 2022.
“From a public profile viewpoint, it’s quite unfortunate,” commented Lawrence Gostin, a public health law professor, who voiced concerns about Becerra’s visibility and comprehension of critical health issues during crises.
Becerra faced criticism for being largely silent during key moments, and when he did communicate, he seemed lacking in understanding of essential public health matters.
In defense of Becerra, campaign adviser Michael Bustamante stated that the candidate was proactive in providing free vaccines, claiming, “Secretary Becerra was a workhorse who served the American people.” He emphasized that Becerra’s decisive actions mirrored those of all 50 states regarding COVID-19 vaccinations and the response to monkeypox.
However, Becerra’s handling of the 2023 crisis involving the loss of contact with over 85,000 unaccompanied migrant children drew significant backlash. Reports suggest that President Biden expressed strong disapproval regarding this situation, which has now become a contentious point in the gubernatorial race, especially with opponent Antonio Villaraigosa running ads labeling Becerra as “unfit” to govern.
The ads focus on the alarming number of missing children, featuring lawmakers characterizing the scenario as “horrifying” and “exploitative.” One lawmaker explicitly directed criticism at Becerra, suggesting the responsibility lay squarely with him.
Despite this, Bustamante defended Becerra against allegations that the administration had failed, saying that such claims rely on “discredited MAGA talking points,” insisting that there is no evidence of a lack of success within the Department of Health during Becerra’s tenure.
