Becerra's unlikely ascent shakes up California's governor race

Xavier Becerra jumped from a late entrant to the frontrunner in California's governor race after Eric Swalwell dropped out amid misconduct allegations, aided by a major ad buy and a calm, experience-focused message. A recent UC Berkeley/LA Times poll puts him at 25% with Hilton at 21% and Steyer at 19%, signaling a dramatic shift as the primary nears. His surge has been linked by some to an organic social-media push—though a Steyer-linked report cited a network of fake accounts amplifying Becerra online, which his campaign denies. Supporters emphasize his long government record and steadiness, while rivals contend the momentum could reverse.