california-politics10.68 min read
Becerra Under Fire as CA Governor Debate Turns on Campaign Scandal
3 days ago•Source: Los Angeles Times
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Ex-Newsom aide pleads guilty in federal campaign-finance scheme
Gavin Newsom’s longtime chief of staff Dana Williamson pleaded guilty to three counts in a federal public-corruption case—campaign-finance fraud, lying to the FBI, and filing a false tax return—over an alleged scheme to siphon campaign funds from Xavier Becerra to his aide and conceal the payments from Becerra; the plea adds political baggage for Becerra in the California governor race, with co-conspirators having also taken plea deals and the case previously facing delays due to Williamson’s health issues.
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Becerra leans into Biden-style stability to surge in CA governor race
Xavier Becerra has surged into the top tier of California's Democratic governor primary by adopting a steady, experienced governance image reminiscent of Joe Biden, defying early expectations and winning support from high-propensity voters. His rise has been helped by late endorsements from key groups (CMA, Latino Legislative Caucus, unions) and strategic spending after fallout from Swalwell's campaign, with Latino voters coalescing behind him. Unlike Biden’s 2020 path, Becerra lacks the same level of national party machinery backing and carries some baggage, but his stability-focused appeal is reshaping the race.
Becerra’s rise sparks progressive backlash in California governor race
Former HHS secretary Xavier Becerra surged to the front of California’s crowded governor race after Swalwell’s exit, but is drawing renewed backlash from progressive critics over immigration handling, oil money donations, and his stance on single-payer health care, as Steyer and Porter attack his establishment credentials ahead of the June 2 top-two primary amid late fundraising and debates over his record.
Becerra Surges as CA Governor Race Turns Wide Open After Swalwell Exit
With ballots arriving in two weeks, California’s governor race remains highly unsettled as Xavier Becerra surges to 13% after Eric Swalwell drops out amid misconduct allegations, tying billionaire Tom Steyer; Betty Yee withdraws for fundraising reasons, leaving a crowded field under California’s top-two primary system.
Porter distances herself from influencer tied to Swalwell allegations
CBS News California reports that influencer Cheyenne Hunt, who has promoted allegations against Rep. Eric Swalwell, has academic and professional ties to UC Irvine Law professor and Porter’s rival for governor, Katie Porter. Porter's campaign says there is no meaningful relationship with Hunt, noting overlapping timelines but no collaboration; Hunt has hinted at coordinating with women who may come forward about Swalwell, while Swalwell’s campaign denies the allegations and dismisses them as political attacks. The piece also covers Hunt’s and Porter’s overlapping years at UC Irvine and Porter's public remarks on the matter, with CNN cautioning that independent verification of the allegations has not been established.
Swalwell seals union backing as Trump-era FBI drama shadows California governor race
Eric Swalwell lands a major labor endorsement (CTA) for his California gubernatorial bid, giving him a key boost in a divided field. The weekend also spotlighted a Washington Post report that Kash Patel is pushing to release a decade-old FBI file related to Swalwell’s ties to a suspected Chinese operative, a move Swalwell says could be used to influence the race. He leans into the Trump confrontation as a defining contrast, even as Democratic voters remain split about the primary lineup.
USC debate fallout: exclusion of candidates of color derails plan and a rushed alternative fizzles
USC canceled its planned gubernatorial debate after backlash that its invitation criteria excluded all candidates of color; a last-minute KNBC-moderated alternative could not be assembled in time due to scheduling conflicts, leaving several candidates of color and Matt Mahan out and highlighting gatekeeping concerns ahead of California’s 2026 race.
California Reframes Chavez Legend After New Allegations
A New York Times investigation accusing Cesar Chavez of sexual abuse has forced California to confront a conflicted legacy, triggering a statewide reckoning within the Democratic establishment and Latino leadership as they balance decades of farmworkers’ rights advocacy with the need to acknowledge alleged crimes and the movement’s broader history.
Reexamining Cesar Chavez: A Biographer’s Candid Look at a Complex Legacy
Miriam Pawel, Chavez’s biographer, argues that his legacy is far more complex than the heroic myth, acknowledging new sexual-abuse allegations while noting his human flaws and the movement he built; the interview traces Chavez’s California-focused influence, discusses how the movement’s ethos sometimes muted red flags, and considers how farmworker memory should shift toward Dolores Huerta and other leaders rather than centering a single icon.
Becerra accuses USC/ABC of sidelining candidates of color in California governor debate
Democratic California gubernatorial candidate Xavier Becerra blasted USC and ABC for a March 24 debate that would exclude all candidates of color, calling the eligibility criteria biased; USC and the Center for the Political Future say the selection weighed polling and fundraising data, with six invitees including late entrant Matt Mahan, while Becerra and other excluded candidates condemn the process as discriminatory and unfair in a crowded race ahead of the June primary.
Steyer questions Swalwell’s California residency in bid for governor
Tom Steyer’s campaign has asked California’s secretary of state to review Eric Swalwell’s residency, arguing Swalwell may live in California only on paper as he runs for governor. The move centers on a dormant five-year residency requirement that state officials have long treated as unconstitutional or unenforceable. Steyer warns the ambiguity could spark a constitutional crisis if Swalwell wins and the Trump administration challenges his legitimacy, potentially affecting federal funds and state operations. Swalwell’s team says it’s common for candidates to list an attorney’s or treasurer’s address for safety, and the secretary of state did not commit to action. Legal experts say any ruling could require a court, highlighting the unsettled nature of California’s residency rules amid a crowded, high-stakes governor’s race.