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Becerra stages stunning comeback to reach California governor runoff

From The Guardian · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Xavier Becerra, trailing in polls early in the California gubernatorial race, has advanced to the general election in a surprising political comeback.
  • Becerra, a former Biden cabinet official and California attorney general, faced a crowded Democratic field and seemed out of step with the party's shift toward younger, anti-establishment figures.
  • His campaign's turnaround is attributed to a combination of factors, including a sexual misconduct scandal that affected other candidates and a strategic shift in his own campaign.

Xavier Becerra's California gubernatorial campaign has staged a remarkable comeback, advancing to the general election after a dismal start.

Becerra, a seasoned political veteran and former Biden administration health secretary, initially struggled in the non-partisan primary. His polling numbers hovered around 3% in late March, significantly trailing other Democratic candidates like Eric Swalwell, Katie Porter, and Tom Steyer, as well as Republicans Steve Hilton and Chad Bianco.

The political landscape in California had shifted, with Democrats seeking anti-establishment outsiders and younger leaders. Becerra, a 68-year-old mild-mannered politician, seemed ill-suited for this trend. Concerns also arose that a divided Democratic vote could allow two Republicans to secure the top two runoff spots, excluding any Democrat from the governor's race.

However, the race took a dramatic turn in April following sexual misconduct allegations against several candidates. This scandal, coupled with a potential strategic shift in Becerra's campaign, appears to have reshaped voter perceptions and propelled him into the general election, a stunning reversal of fortune.

He was a reasonably good candidate, but Becerra did not excite voters.

— Christian GroseA University of Southern California political science professor commenting on Becerra's initial campaign performance.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Guardian in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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