Xavier Becerra California Governor Runoff Heats Up as Former Attorney General Clinches Second Place
SACRAMENTO, April 1, 2025 – In a closely watched electoral development, Xavier Becerra, the former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services and California Attorney General, has secured enough votes to advance to a runoff election for the governorship of California. The runoff, triggered by a failure to achieve a majority in the primary, is scheduled for June 4, 2025. Becerra outperformed three other major candidates, finishing second behind incumbent Governor Gavin Newsom in the initial tally, with unofficial results showing Becerra capturing 28.6 percent of the vote to Newsom’s 44.2 percent. The runoff will now force a one-on-one contest between the two Democrats, a scenario that could reshape the state’s political landscape. Becerra, 67, campaigned on a platform of expanding healthcare access and combating climate change, leveraging his federal experience to call for greater federal-state collaboration. Political analysts attribute his strong showing to robust support from urban voters and Latino communities, who comprise roughly 40 percent of California’s electorate. Governor Newsom, 57, has positioned himself as a moderate leader, touting economic growth and housing reforms. The final vote tally is expected to be certified by the California Secretary of State by April 21, 2025.