Former President Joe Biden will reportedly stay neutral in California’s heated governor race despite longtime ally Xavier Becerra emerging as one of the leading Democratic candidates.
The decision is being viewed by some Democrats as a major blow to Becerra, who served as Biden’s Health and Human Services secretary and previously promoted his close relationship with the former president as a centerpiece of his campaign.
According to reports, Biden recently informed former White House chief of staff Ron Klain that he would not endorse any candidate in the June 2 California primary.
“He told me that he is a big fan of Xavier, he likes Xavier, appreciates the job he did, but that there are other people in the race who he also has a relationship with,” Klain said. “He’s just going to stay neutral.”
The refusal to endorse comes despite Biden previously backing former aides and allies in several other major political races around the country.
Becerra now finds himself competing in a crowded and increasingly chaotic Democratic field that also includes billionaire activist Tom Steyer, while Republican candidate Steve Hilton has surged in multiple recent polls.
The California race became even more turbulent following the collapse of Eric Swalwell’s gubernatorial campaign amid allegations of rape and sexual assault, creating an opening that helped propel Becerra toward the top tier of Democratic contenders.
Still, Biden’s neutrality — combined with the absence of endorsements from California Gov. Gavin Newsom and former Vice President Kamala Harris — has fueled speculation about Becerra’s standing within his own party.
Becerra entered the race touting decades of Democratic political experience, including his time as California attorney general and his leadership role inside the Biden administration during the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, his tenure in Washington also attracted criticism from both Republicans and some Democrats.
Reports during the Biden administration detailed frustration among White House officials over Becerra’s management style and complaints surrounding delays involving migrant child processing at the southern border.
Following a recent CNN gubernatorial debate, former Justice Department spokeswoman Xochitl Hinojosa bluntly criticized Becerra’s record, saying he “was not effective in government.”
Klain pushed back against those criticisms, calling attacks on Becerra “profoundly unfair.”
Former White House COVID coordinator Ashish Jha also defended Becerra, arguing that tensions during the pandemic were partly caused by the White House itself directly managing much of the federal response effort.
California’s gubernatorial primary is shaping up to be one of the most closely watched political battles in the country as Democrats attempt to maintain control of the deep-blue state while Republicans seek to capitalize on growing voter frustration over crime, homelessness, immigration, and the economy.
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