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Former Biden administration Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra has entered the California governor race, coming as former presidential candidate Kamala Harris is still weighing a possible run for the role after losing the 2024 election.
"I’m running to be the next Governor of California," Becerra wrote. "As AG I took on Trump – and won. As HHS Secretary, I took on Big Pharma – and won. It’s time to do it again for California. Let’s rebuild the California Dream for everyone."
In a campaign video, Becerra said, "I watched my parents, a construction worker and a clerical worker, achieve the California dream. Can we do that today with this affordability crisis? Very tough. But we’ve taken on these tough fights. California has succeeded in those tough fights and become the economic engine of this country. We can do that but you need a leader who can be tough."
Becerra said that he has "been in those tough fights, whether it was as a member of Congress when we helped draft and pass the Affordable Care Act, when I was Attorney General for our great state of California and I took on the Trump administration the first time, sued him over 100 times and won, or whether as Secretary of Health and Human Services, I took on the pharmaceutical industry and we negotiated lower prescription drug prices for seniors under Medicare."
Becerra said that "fancy announcements" could wait, but "what can’t wait is that California dream. Real change comes with our participation."
Per Politico, Becerra’s campaign has said that he would not drop out of the race to replace term-limited Gavin Newsom if Harris decides to run for the top role in the state.
Harris was asked earlier in March if she planned to run for California governor, and said that she would decide by the end of the summer. A win in the governor’s race would likely remove her from contention for the 2028 presidential race, which she is also reportedly still evaluating.
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