California gubernatorial candidate Xavier Becerra abruptly departed from reporters Wednesday, refusing to answer persistent questions regarding his record as President Joe Biden’s Health and Human Services secretary, particularly concerning the handling of migrant children.
Becerra had just concluded a press conference in Sacramento focused on promoting state voting rights legislation in his capacity as an adviser to the UCLA Voting Rights Project. As he was leaving, reporters pressed him about his tenure at HHS.
"Do you have any regrets about your HHS career?" The California Post’s Titus Wu asked multiple times as Becerra continued to walk away without a response. He only broke his silence to confirm his participation in a debate with Republican rival Steve Hilton.
The exchange highlighted a growing point of contention in the California gubernatorial race, where Becerra's stewardship of HHS has become a central issue. His Republican opponent, Steve Hilton, has frequently criticized Becerra on this matter.
Becerra's record has also faced scrutiny from within his own party during the primary, making his time at HHS a sensitive subject on the campaign trail. Hilton has accused Becerra of sending migrant children to traffickers, a claim Becerra’s campaign has not directly addressed.
Campaign spokesperson Jonathan Underland stated that Becerra was on a tight schedule and had to travel to a private event in Fresno. "We’re going to spend a lot of time speaking with the journalists that he’s going to have to work with if he’s elected. Like I said, we’re going to be in Sacramento a lot," Underland said, explaining the candidate's departure.