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California Gov. Gavin Newsom, left, and then-California Attorney General Xavier Becerra speak at a news conference announcing a lawsuit challenging the Trump administration\u2019s public charge rule in Sacramento, Calif., in 2019. Newsom endorsed Becerra for governor on Tuesday after Becerra advanced to the November general election against Republican Steve Hilton.<\/p>\n
Jason Pierce<\/p>\n
Sacramento Bee file<\/p>\n
Gov. Gavin Newsom endorsed former Attorney General Xavier Becerra late Tuesday afternoon, minutes after the Associated Press confirmed<\/a> Becerra and Republican Steve Hilton would advance to the November general election.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m proud to support Xavier as our nominee for Governor and look forward to helping ensure a smooth transition,\u201d Newsom said in an X post<\/a>. \u201cHe will stand up to Donald Trump, defend our families, and keep California moving forward.\u201d<\/p>\n For months, Newsom \u2013 who is term-limited and cannot run again after this year \u2013 resisted throwing his weight behind a Democrat in the race to succeed him. He jokingly apologized to former Gov. Jerry Brown in a November interview<\/a> with The Bee for being a \u201cpest\u201d in trying to get his predecessor\u2019s endorsement.<\/p>\n \u201cI try to avoid that topic, just on the basis of it\u2019s uncomfortable, when you have a sell-by date,\u201d he said of being asked to weigh in on the gubernatorial race.<\/p>\n On Friday, the AP declared Becerra the top vote getter in last week\u2019s primary<\/a>. He will now face Hilton, a former Fox News host who has support from President Donald Trump.<\/p>\n \u201cLast week, Californians sent a clear message: more than four million voters chose a different path than the one Steve Hilton and Donald Trump are offering. That\u2019s the mandate I\u2019ll carry into November,\u201d Becerra said in a statement. \u201cThis November, voters will choose between a governor who will fight for that future and one who would hand Sacramento to Donald Trump. California will not be his next casualty.\u201d<\/p>\n Becerra previously served as Attorney General from 2017 to 2021<\/a>, overlapping with Newsom, who first took office in 2019. While in that office, Becerra sued the White House over 120 times.<\/p>\n In 2021, he left to join the administration of President Joe Biden as Health and Human Services Secretary, after which Newsom appointed Rob Bonta as his replacement.<\/p>\n Becerra began surging in polls this spring after five women accused the then-frontrunner former Rep. Eric Swalwell of sexual misconduct. Swalwell\u2019s campaign collapsed and he resigned from office.<\/p>\n Some members of Swalwell\u2019s digital team, who previously worked for Newsom, have since decamped for the Becerra campaign.<\/p>\n Former Vice President Kamala Harris also endorsed Becerra, praising his \u201ccalm, steady brand of leadership.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI know as Governor, he will do whatever it takes to stand up to Donald Trump, defend our rights, and protect our communities,\u201d she said. \u201cI look forward to standing with Xavier as California makes history by electing our first Latino governor in 150 years.\u201d<\/p>\n This story was originally published June 9, 2026 at 6:02 PM.<\/p>\n Related Stories from Sacramento Bee<\/p>\n
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