Biden breaks silence on endorsement in California governor race

Joe Biden will not endorse anyone in the race for California governor, despite candidate Xavier Becerra working as one of the top officials in the former president’s administration.

The decision not to make an endorsement in the chaotic race is being seen by some as a glaring snub of former Health and Human Services Secretary, who has risen to the top of the Democratic crop in recent polling.

Biden recently told former White House chief of staff Ron Klain that he would not endorse in the June 2 primary despite Becerra’s years of service under Biden, according to the New York Times.

“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.”

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Becerra is currently waging a close fight with progressive billionaire Tom Steyer, while many polls have Republican Steve Hilton in the lead.

Biden has already endorsed former aides in other high-profile races, including former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms in Georgia and former White House adviser Dan Koh in Massachusetts.

Becerra, meanwhile, has been left empty-handed.

The former California attorney general entered the race touting his decades-long résumé in Democratic politics and his service in Biden’s cabinet during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

After the implosion of Eric Swalwell’s gubernatorial campaign amid rape and sexual assault allegations, Becerra surged in the polls as a leading candidates in the jam-packed Democratic field.

But a lack of endorsements from Biden, Gov. Gavin Newsom and former Vice President Kamala Harris has raised questions on whether Becerra is liked within his own party.

Becerra’s performance as a top officials in the Biden administration has been heavily criticized.

The Times cited past reporting on frustrations within the White House over Becerra’s management style, including complaints over delays in handling migrant children crossing the southern border.

After a recent CNN debate, former Justice Department spokeswoman Xochitl Hinojosa said Becerra “was not effective in government.” 

Klain called the attacks on Becerra “profoundly unfair,” while former White House COVID response coordinator Ashish Jha said Becerra handled a difficult role well despite tensions created by the White House directly managing much of the pandemic response.