{"id":1630,"date":"2026-05-12T17:21:25","date_gmt":"2026-05-12T17:21:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sandiegorelocationnews.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/12\/from-fading-to-front-runner-becerra-draws-cheers-at-sac-state-rally-4\/"},"modified":"2026-05-12T17:21:25","modified_gmt":"2026-05-12T17:21:25","slug":"from-fading-to-front-runner-becerra-draws-cheers-at-sac-state-rally-4","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sandiegorelocationnews.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/12\/from-fading-to-front-runner-becerra-draws-cheers-at-sac-state-rally-4\/","title":{"rendered":"From fading to front-runner, Becerra draws cheers at Sac State rally"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/p>\n

Six weeks ago, Democrat Xavier Becerra\u2019s campaign for governor was running on fumes, struggling to raise money or stand out in a crowded field.<\/p>\n

Read more 4 California hospitals got D grades for patient safety. See which ones<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

All of that felt like a distant memory on Monday night, when Becerra, now the leading Democrat ahead of the June 2 primary, was met with roars of approval from a hometown crowd of at least 700 people at Sacramento State.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

With early voting underway, the former state attorney general kept the event brief and upbeat. Becerra said he had the experience and leadership chops to take on \u201cthe big menace in Washington, D.C.\u201d and lower costs for Californians. He took three questions, drawn from a pool collected by his campaign, and made final remarks encouraging supporters to vote. In all, Becerra was on stage for less than 25 minutes.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Becerra appeared visibly excited at his change in fortunes, smiling through much of the event. He kept his rhetoric expansive rather than drilling into policy details.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\u201cI think people are hungry \u2014 hungry for something they can believe in, hungry for something they can trust,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Becerra peppered his speech with bursts of Spanish. If he wins, Becerra would be the first elected Latino governor in California history, just as he previously was the first Latino attorney general and first Latino to serve as U.S. secretary of health and human services.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\u201cYo tengo que andar,\u201d Becerra said. \u201cI know with whom I walk. I walk with you.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The Sacramento native shot up in the polls after former Rep. Eric Swalwell dropped out of the race last month, catching all but his most stalwart supporters by surprise. A poll commissioned by the California Democratic Party released last week showed he was tied for first place with Republican Steve Hilton at 18% support.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Becerra\u2019s campaign has scrambled to beef up staffing, fundraising and policy positions. It released a comprehensive housing plan last week, months after some other candidates in the race.<\/p>\n

Read more Sacramento mayor sought council members\u2019 ideas to cut budget. Here\u2019s what they said<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

In debates and TV ads, rivals have questioned Becerra\u2019s role in a corruption scandal involving a former campaign aide who pleaded guilty last year to diverting $225,000 from Becerra\u2019s dormant campaign account to pad his salary.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Becerra has not been charged with any wrongdoing. In brief remarks to reporters Monday, he reiterated that he had cooperated with authorities in the investigation of the case and that he was \u201cnot involved in those actions.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Becerra also responded to criticism stemming from his handling of child migrants while serving under former President Joe Biden. In 2023, the New York Times published a Pulitzer-winning investigation into a spike in child migrants forced into labor; it found Becerra encouraged faster processing of child migrants into homes that had not been fully vetted.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Speaking to reporters Monday evening, Becerra continued to characterize attacks on his record on the issue as \u201cTrump lies.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\u201cWe took over from an administration that had been putting kids in cages,\u201d Becerra said. \u201cWe had to quickly be able to stand up the facilities to take care of children. And that\u2019s what we did. What employers did after they left our care, after they left our jurisdiction where the exploitation of children may have occurred, was not on my watch.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n