Equality California Endorses Xavier Becerra for California Governor

SACRAMENTO - Equality California announced its endorsement of Xavier Becerra for California Governor.

"Xavier Becerra understands that protecting LGBTQ+ people requires more than rhetoric - it requires action, especially in times of crisis," said Tony Hoang, Executive Director of Equality California. "At a time when LGBTQ+ people are facing coordinated attacks across the country, California needs a governor who has not only spoken out, but taken action to defend our community. From standing up to Donald Trump in court, to affirming that transgender healthcare is medically necessary at the highest levels of our nation's health system, Xavier Becerra has used all of his positions of power to defend our community's rights and dignity."

Over his more than three decades of public service Becerra has served as California Attorney General, as U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, and as a member of the California Assembly.

As California Attorney General, Becerra led one of the most aggressive legal responses to the Trump Administration, filing more than 100 lawsuits to challenge harmful federal policies across healthcare, immigration, environmental protection, and civil rights. In Stockman v. Trump, a case challenging the federal transgender military ban, Equality California served as an organizational plaintiff alongside members of our community.

Becerra's commitment to LGBTQ+ Californians spans decades and is rooted in lived experience. As the son of immigrants, he has long understood the importance of protecting vulnerable communities and expanding access to opportunity. As a Member of Congress, Becerra voted against the Defense of Marriage Act in 1996, long before doing so was politically safe. As U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, he oversaw national healthcare policy and consistently affirmed access to transgender healthcare, grounding those decisions in medical expertise and science. His leadership has earned recognition from Equality California, which honored him with the Ally Leadership Award in both 2018 and 2024.

Throughout the endorsement process, Becerra demonstrated a clear understanding of the challenges facing LGBTQ+ Californians, from barriers to care and economic instability to ongoing legal and political attacks on our rights. He also made clear that, as Governor, he will meet those challenges head-on with strong leadership, sound policy, and a willingness to stand up for those most at risk.

California has long been the national leader on LGBTQ+ equality, but that progress is not guaranteed. It requires an executive prepared to defend it in courtrooms, in policy decisions, and in moments of crisis. Xavier Becerra's decades-long record in Congress, as Attorney General, and as U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, combined with his leadership in advancing and defending LGBTQ+ rights, make him the clear choice for California Governor.

The California primary election will take place on June 2, 2026. California will elect a new Governor from among the top two primary candidates on November 3, 2026.

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