Becerra says he’d scrap current high-speed rail configuration and finish on time and budget

FRESNO, Calif. (FOX26) — The race for California governor is heating up, and the Central Valley is taking center stage.

Gubernatorial candidate Xavier Becerra stopped in Fresno Saturday afternoon, making his final pitch to voters just 10 days before Californians head to the polls. Speaking to a packed crowd, Becerra focused on issues he says are critical to the region, including agriculture, water reliability, and the state’s controversial high-speed rail project.

“It really did feel like I was in a family reunion,” Becerra said. “And it almost was like a family reunion, because a good portion of that audience was family.”

Becerra leaned heavily on his San Joaquin Valley roots throughout the event, emphasizing his personal connection to the region and promising Valley concerns would not be overlooked in Sacramento.

“The heartbeat of much of California is here in the Central Valley as it is anywhere else,” Becerra said. “So I’m not going to forget the Valley. It is my home. I was raised in the Valley myself.”

California State Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas also attended the event, offering his endorsement and support for the candidate.

“When it comes to his values, who he is, and his experience, it’s someone that I trust,” Rivas said.

From endorsements to infrastructure, Becerra also addressed California’s ongoing high-speed rail project, which has faced years of criticism over delays and rising costs.

“I’m going to scrap the current configuration, and I’m going to make sure we finish,” Becerra said. “But we’ve got to do it on budget and on time.”

Water policy also took center stage during the discussion. When asked how he would balance water reliability for agriculture with California’s environmental goals, Becerra acknowledged there is no simple solution.

“There is a sweet spot, and everyone has to recognize you don’t get everything you want,” Becerra said. “Whether it’s the ag community, the environmental community, or the developer community, we all have to recognize that water is a precious resource.”

Becerra admitted he does not yet have a final answer on how to allocate water resources moving forward.

“How do we allocate it? Let’s sit down,” he said. “I’m not going to say to you right now I have the answer.”

Toward the end of the interview, Becerra defended his qualifications to lead the state, pointing to decades of experience in both state and federal government.

“Well, if I don’t have enough experience,” Becerra said, “then every one of the other candidates who’s running today has got to spend about another 20 years catching up to me.”