Becerra Wins Governorship as California’s Latino Political Bloc Solidifies
The new governor joins a slate of Latino leaders who now hold the state’s top judicial, legislative, and federal seats.
By Kaito Sokolov ·
Xavier Becerra will serve as California’s first Latino governor in modern times, a position previously held only by Romualdo Pacheco for ten months in 1875. The victory marks a consolidation of power rather than a sudden breakthrough, as Latino leaders now occupy the highest elected and appointed offices in the state simultaneously. For the first time, the governor’s mansion, both chambers of the state legislature, and the California Supreme Court are all led by Latino individuals.
This political shift did not happen overnight. In the decades following World War II, Latino politicians often ran on moderate platforms to avoid alienating white voters. They relied on established political machines built by pioneers like Richard Alatorre and Gloria Molina to secure local victories. By the late 1980s, immigration and civil rights lawsuits that redrew district lines allowed Latino candidates to win without needing external validation from white power brokers.
The momentum accelerated in the 1990s and 2000s. In 1996, Cruz Bustamante became the first Latino to serve as assembly speaker and later lieutenant governor. In 2005, Antonio Villaraigosa was elected mayor of Los Angeles. Each victory normalized Latino leadership, making the eventual capture of the governor’s office a logical next step in a long-term strategy.
Becerra’s own career followed this incremental path. He represented L.A.’s eastside in the state assembly and Congress for 27 years. Gov. Jerry Brown appointed him as the state’s first Latino attorney general in 2017. Three years later, he served as the first Latino secretary of Health and Human Services in the Biden administration. His recent gubernatorial campaign leaned into a moderate persona, branding him as a non-threatening figure to attract a broad coalition.
The new administration inherits a state facing specific economic and environmental challenges. The state grapples with droughts, wildfires, and an eroding coast. A federal administration is currently fighting California in court over the validity of 20,000 immigrant voters. The state also faces stagnant population growth that threatens its congressional representation. Becerra takes office with a legislature where the top posts are held by Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas and Senate leader Monique Limón.
Supporters and critics alike note that voters are now less focused on identity and more on results. A recent Berkeley IGS poll found that only 45% of Latino voters in California felt proud of the prospect of a Latino governor. Lena Gonzalez, a state senator and chair of the Latino Legislative Caucus, said voters care more about policy outcomes than the ethnicity of their representatives. She argued that the political class must lead without constantly advertising its Latino identity.
Becerra’s first days in office include a public appearance at Homegirl Cafe in Chinatown. There, he fielded questions from a packed room of supporters and locals. The event mixed quiet conversation with loud chants of his name. His staff and allies, including political strategist Mike Madrid, emphasized that the next two years will test whether this new leadership can manage the state’s complex problems while maintaining the support of a diverse electorate.
The new governor will work alongside a judiciary led by Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero, who was appointed in 2023. In federal politics, the state is represented by Sen. Alex Padilla and Rep. Pete Aguilar. This concentration of power creates a unified front in Sacramento and Washington. The next legislative session will determine if this coalition can pass the infrastructure and immigration bills currently stalled in the state capital.
