Gavin Newsom’s dark horse governor candidate drops ultimate Dem taboo with five-word defense
Xavier Becerra, a surging Democratic candidate for California governor, has drawn attention for defending oil giant Chevron and accepting a $39,200 donation, breaking with party norms by stating 'they're not the bad guy' amid high gas prices and environmental concerns. His comments contrast with other Democratic candidates like Tom Steyer and Katie Porter, who have pledged not to accept fossil fuel contributions. Becerra's stance has sparked criticism from climate activists, even as he gains in the polls and is rumored to have the backing of Governor Gavin Newsom.
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Metro Gavin Newsom’s dark horse governor candidate drops ultimate Dem taboo with five-word defense By Zain Khan Published April 30, 2026, 10:56 a.m. ET Xavier Becerra has broken ranks with the other Democratic California gubernatorial candidates, with his staunch defense of big oil. Joe Biden’s former Health and Human Services secretary said “they’re not the bad guy” when grilled over accepting donations from gas giant Chevron. Becerra has surged in the polls since Eric Swalwell’s downfall due to rape allegations, which he denied, and is rumored to be Gov. Gavin Newsom’s team’s preferred pick. 4 Xavier Becerra is reported to have accepted a $39,200 donation from the oil giant for his surging gubernatorial campaign.
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