Xavier Becerra pledged to focus on housing, health care and working families while governing a state shaped by immigrant communities.
Xavier Becerra invoked his Mexican roots and California’s diversity after winning the governor’s race, pledging to govern for working families facing economic and social pressures.
Los Ángeles Press
Democrat Xavier Becerra celebrated his victory in California’s gubernatorial election Tuesday with a speech centered on his Mexican heritage, the state’s cultural diversity and the struggles of working families.
“What a great night to be a Californian. What a great night to be an American. To be the son of immigrants,” Becerra told supporters after election projections confirmed his victory over Republican Steve Hilton, who had been backed by President Donald Trump.
Becerra, 68, is set to become the first Latino elected governor of California by popular vote when he succeeds Democrat Gavin Newsom in January 2027. His victory extends Democratic control of the nation’s most populous state, which has repeatedly clashed with the Trump administration over immigration, health care and environmental policy.
The governor-elect acknowledged the economic and political strain Californians have faced over the past two years, pointing to rising prices, wars, corruption and inequality. He described the campaign as a difficult contest carried by volunteers and voters who refused to give up on the possibility of change.
“Sí se puede. Sí lo hicimos. We fought and we won,” he said to cheers from the crowd.
One of the most personal moments of the speech came when Xavier Becerra spoke about his parents. His father, Manuel, was born in Tijuana, while his mother, María Teresa, was from Guadalajara, Jalisco. Becerra said they arrived in California with only $12 and built a life through construction work and administrative jobs.
He credited their sacrifices with giving him the opportunities that led to a political career spanning more than three decades.
“I didn’t run to make history. I ran to make a difference,” Becerra said, adding that he intends to govern for all Californians, including those who voted for his opponent.
Becerra said his administration would focus on people struggling to buy homes, first-generation college students, small-business owners without access to capital and families facing medical emergencies they cannot afford.
Housing and the cost of living were major issues throughout the campaign. Both candidates acknowledged the pressure Californians are facing, but proposed sharply different approaches. Hilton called for lower taxes and fewer regulations, while Becerra argued for a larger state role in expanding access to housing and health care.
The governor-elect also criticized political forces he said use disinformation and social division to gain power.
“There is no greatness in America without California. And there is no California without our diverse communities,” he said.
Becerra described California’s diversity as one of its greatest strengths and rejected the idea that cultural or ethnic differences represent a threat to the state.
He dedicated his victory to farmworkers, firefighters, teachers, shopkeepers, small-business owners and service workers, while also thanking labor organizations that supported his campaign.
His wife, Carolina Reyes, spoke before him and thanked campaign volunteers, emphasizing voting as a form of civic participation. She described Becerra as an advocate for families and for people whose voices are often excluded from government decision-making.
Becerra’s victory marks a significant shift in Latino political representation in California. His career has included service in the U.S. House of Representatives, as California attorney general and as secretary of Health and Human Services under President Joe Biden.
When he takes office, he will inherit a state facing persistent pressure over housing affordability, health care costs, immigration and the impact of federal policy on public resources.
The result also underscores the Democratic Party’s continued electoral strength in California despite widespread voter frustration over housing shortages, high living costs and the price of basic services.
Becerra closed the available portion of his victory speech by again invoking the role of working communities in building California and presenting his win as an opening for people who have long felt excluded from political decision-making.
