The silence extends beyond the Golden State. The New York Times reported last week<\/a> that former President Joe Biden wouldn\u2019t give any of the candidates his endorsement, including Xavier Becerra, who served as Biden\u2019s former secretary of health and human services.<\/p>\n Democratic consultant Steven Maviglio said there\u2019s a simple reason they\u2019re not weighing in: \u201cThey don\u2019t want to be a loser.\u201d<\/p>\n For Newsom in particular, backing a losing candidate could be a mark against him as he ramps up a probable run for president in 2028, Maviglio said.<\/p>\n And while \u201cmost endorsements are a dime a dozen,\u201d Maviglio said that Newsom\u2019s popularity and name recognition among California Democrats gives his endorsement extra juice.<\/p>\n Loading\u2026<\/p>\n Newsom worked alongside Becerra from 2019 to 2021, when Newsom was in his first term and Becerra served as state attorney general. It\u2019s not unusual for governors to sit out primaries; Newsom\u2019s predecessor, Jerry Brown, declined to endorse him in the 2018 primary.<\/p>\n Not all Democrats are steering clear of publicly backing candidates. Becerra has won the nod from a dozen Congressional Democrats and Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas, while former Rep. Katie Porter has the backing of Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Massachusetts. Billionaire Tom Steyer is backed by Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Fremont, a rising star in the party.<\/p>\n But Democratic consultant Andrew Acosta said it was notable Pelosi had declined former colleagues like Porter or Becerra, or that San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan hadn\u2019t won backing from more mayors.<\/p>\n \u201cWho didn\u2019t endorse in this was almost as interesting as who did endorse,\u201d Acosta said.<\/p>\n Related Stories from Sacramento Bee<\/p>\n
![\"Profile](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/SAC_9987_BenPaviour_HA_260224.jpg\")