By admin 
Gov. Gavin Newsom endorsed former Attorney General Xavier Becerra late Tuesday afternoon, minutes after the Associated Press confirmed Becerra and Republican Steve Hilton would advance to the November general election.
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“I’m proud to support Xavier as our nominee for Governor and look forward to helping ensure a smooth transition,” Newsom said in an X post. “He will stand up to Donald Trump, defend our families, and keep California moving forward.”
For months, Newsom – who is term-limited and cannot run again after this year – resisted throwing his weight behind a Democrat in the race to succeed him. He jokingly apologized to former Gov. Jerry Brown in a November interview with The Bee for being a “pest” in trying to get his predecessor’s endorsement.
“I try to avoid that topic, just on the basis of it’s uncomfortable, when you have a sell-by date,” he said of being asked to weigh in on the gubernatorial race.
On Friday, the AP declared Becerra the top vote getter in last week’s primary. He will now face Hilton, a former Fox News host who has support from President Donald Trump.
“Last week, Californians sent a clear message: more than four million voters chose a different path than the one Steve Hilton and Donald Trump are offering. That’s the mandate I’ll carry into November,” Becerra said in a statement. “This November, voters will choose between a governor who will fight for that future and one who would hand Sacramento to Donald Trump. California will not be his next casualty.”
Becerra previously served as Attorney General from 2017 to 2021, overlapping with Newsom, who first took office in 2019. While in that office, Becerra sued the White House over 120 times.
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In 2021, he left to join the administration of President Joe Biden as Health and Human Services Secretary, after which Newsom appointed Rob Bonta as his replacement.
Becerra began surging in polls this spring after five women accused the then-frontrunner former Rep. Eric Swalwell of sexual misconduct. Swalwell’s campaign collapsed and he resigned from office.
Some members of Swalwell’s digital team, who previously worked for Newsom, have since decamped for the Becerra campaign.
Former Vice President Kamala Harris also endorsed Becerra, praising his “calm, steady brand of leadership.”
“I know as Governor, he will do whatever it takes to stand up to Donald Trump, defend our rights, and protect our communities,” she said. “I look forward to standing with Xavier as California makes history by electing our first Latino governor in 150 years.”
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This story was originally published June 9, 2026 at 6:02 PM.