California Teachers Association endorses Xavier Becerra for governor | EdSource
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The California Teachers Association has endorsed Democrat Xavier Becerra for California’s governor race in the November election, the state teachers union announced Tuesday.
“This November the choice is clear,” said CTA in a social media post. “Our students and communities deserve a leader who will stand up for public education.”
Becerra is the third gubernatorial candidate the CTA has backed this election cycle. The state’s largest teachers union had previously recommended progressive billionaire Tom Steyer in the June primary race shortly after revoking its endorsement of front-runner Eric Swalwell after multiple allegations of sexual assault. The union, with more than 300,000 members, had pointed to Steyer’s support for reforming Proposition 13, which capped property tax rates, as a key issue for education funding in the election.
Becerra, who served as U.S. secretary of health and human services under President Joe Biden, and Republican Steve Hilton, a conservative political commentator, advanced to the November election after securing the top two spots in the June 2 primary.
Education has not been a central issue in California’s gubernatorial race. But the state’s next governor will face steep financial deficits as well as succeed Newsom’s significant investments in community schools, transitional kindergarten, after-school programming, teacher recruitment and legislation to change how students are taught to read.
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News Brief
Wednesday, June 17, 2026 — 11:01 am
June 17, 2026
The California Teachers Association has endorsed Democrat Xavier Becerra for California’s governor race in the November election, the state teachers union announced Tuesday.
“This November the choice is clear,” said CTA in a social media post. “Our students and communities deserve a leader who will stand up for public education.”
Becerra is the third gubernatorial candidate the CTA has backed this election cycle. The state’s largest teachers union had previously recommended progressive billionaire Tom Steyer in the June primary race shortly after revoking its endorsement of front-runner Eric Swalwell after multiple allegations of sexual assault. The union, with more than 300,000 members, had pointed to Steyer’s support for reforming Proposition 13, which capped property tax rates, as a key issue for education funding in the election.
Becerra, who served as U.S. secretary of health and human services under President Joe Biden, and Republican Steve Hilton, a conservative political commentator, advanced to the November election after securing the top two spots in the June 2 primary.
Education has not been a central issue in California’s gubernatorial race. But the state’s next governor will face steep financial deficits as well as succeed Newsom’s significant investments in community schools, transitional kindergarten, after-school programming, teacher recruitment and legislation to change how students are taught to read.
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