Newly elected officials in California are facing scrutiny for their reluctance to answer press questions regarding their campaign promises. Governor-elect Xavier Becerra and Los Angeles Mayor-elect Nithya Raman have both been criticized for evading direct questions from reporters following their election victories.
At a press conference he called, Becerra was asked if he would commit to reversing Medi-Cal cuts for undocumented immigrants, a promise that appeared on his campaign website. Instead of providing a direct answer, Becerra stated, "That may get you elected, but that isn’t the way you govern," implying his campaign pledges were not binding. He further expressed frustration, saying, "Guys, don’t play this game about asking me to commit, because I didn’t get elected doing that."
Similarly, Mayor-elect Raman faced challenges when asked about her agenda for her first 100 days in office. She deferred, saying, "When we have more to announce about what that transition looks like and what the first 100 days will look like, we will share that with you." Raman also avoided answering whether she would follow through on her stated intention to fire LAPD chief Jim McConnell, stating, "I want to make sure that whatever happens over this transition, that we are prepared to deliver that service at the level that Angelenos expect when I take office in mid-December."
Critics argue that elected officials have a responsibility to be transparent and accountable to the public for the commitments they made during their campaigns. The practice of avoiding straightforward answers is seen as counterproductive to good governance and undermines public trust. The expectation is that once elected, officials should be prepared to address questions about their plans and policies directly.