Xavier Becerra – Democratic candidate for governor of California.

My fellow Californians,
My name is Xavier Becerra, and I am proud to stand before you as the Democratic nominee for Governor of California.
This election is about the future of our state.
It is about whether California continues to lead America forward—or whether we turn back the clock.
My Republican opponent tells you that California is failing.
I see something very different.
I see the most innovative economy in the world.
I see scientists developing new medical breakthroughs.
I see entrepreneurs creating new industries.
I see students striving for better lives.
I see immigrants contributing their talents and energy.
I see communities confronting difficult challenges while refusing to give up on one another.
California is not perfect.
But California remains a beacon of opportunity, diversity, and progress.
The question before us is not whether challenges exist.
The question is how we will meet them.
My Republican opponent believes that government is usually the problem.
I believe government can be a powerful force for good when it is accountable, effective, and focused on results.
That belief has shaped my career in public service.
And it shapes my vision for California.
Let us begin with affordability.
Millions of Californians are struggling with housing costs, healthcare expenses, childcare costs, and the rising cost of living.
The Republican answer is often the same: deregulate and hope the market solves the problem.
We have heard that promise before.
What Californians need is action.
We need more housing construction.
We need investments in affordable housing.
We need public transportation that reduces commuting costs.
We need healthcare that remains accessible to working families.
And we need an economy that works for everyone, not only those at the top.
Economic growth is important.
But growth alone is not enough.
Prosperity must be broadly shared.
That is the California dream.
Next, let us talk about education.
The future of California depends on the success of our children.
Every child deserves access to excellent schools, regardless of income, ZIP code, or family background.
That means investing in teachers.
Investing in classrooms.
Investing in early childhood education.
Investing in career and technical programs.
And investing in public universities that have long been engines of opportunity.
My opponent talks about reducing government.
I talk about investing in people.
Because the greatest resource California possesses is not oil, land, or technology.
It is human potential.
Now let us discuss healthcare.
No family should face bankruptcy because of illness.
No child should go without medical care.
No senior should have to choose between medicine and groceries.
As Governor, I will work to strengthen access to healthcare and protect Californians from efforts to weaken coverage or reduce essential services.
Healthcare is not merely an economic issue.
It is a moral issue.
Let us turn to public safety.
Every Californian deserves safe communities.
Every family deserves security.
Every victim deserves justice.
But public safety requires more than arrests and incarceration.
It requires prevention.
It requires treatment for addiction.
It requires mental health services.
It requires opportunities that help young people avoid crime in the first place.
We can support law enforcement while also addressing the underlying causes of crime.
Those goals are not contradictory.
They are complementary.
Now let us address immigration.
California's story is an immigrant story.
Generation after generation, people from around the world have come here seeking freedom, opportunity, and a better future.
Our diversity is not a weakness.
It is one of our greatest strengths.
My Republican opponent often speaks about enforcement.
I speak about both enforcement and humanity.
We need secure borders.
We need orderly immigration processes.
But we must also remember that behind every immigration statistic is a human being.
A worker.
A student.
A parent.
A child.
California will continue to support legal immigration, defend due process, and treat people with dignity.
We can uphold the law without abandoning our values.
And we must never allow fear or division to define who we are.
Let us talk about climate and the environment.
California has become a global leader because we recognized early that climate change is not a distant threat.
It is here now.
We see it in droughts.
We see it in wildfires.
We see it in extreme weather.
My Republican opponent often describes environmental protections as obstacles.
I see them as investments in our future.
We can grow our economy while expanding clean energy, strengthening resilience, and protecting the natural beauty that makes California unique.
Economic leadership and environmental leadership can go hand in hand.
Finally, let us discuss democracy itself.
Across our country, we see growing polarization and distrust.
We see leaders who profit from division.
Who tell us that our neighbors are enemies.
Who seek power by exploiting fear.
California must offer a different example.
We are strongest when we work together.
When we solve problems together.
When we recognize that our diversity is a source of strength rather than conflict.
My fellow Californians, this election offers a clear choice.
My opponent believes that government should do less.
I believe government should work better.
My opponent believes that our greatest challenges can be solved primarily by reducing regulation and shrinking public institutions.
I believe that smart public investment, combined with private innovation, can create opportunity for all.
My opponent sees a California in decline.
I see a California with extraordinary promise.
A California that leads in technology.
A California that leads in education.
A California that leads in environmental stewardship.
A California that leads in economic opportunity.
And a California that continues to welcome dreamers from every corner of the world.
The challenges before us are real.
But so are our strengths.
I ask for your vote.
I ask for your trust.
And I ask you to join me in building a California that is more affordable, more inclusive, more sustainable, and more prosperous for generations to come.
Together, we can continue the work of building a California that remains a beacon of hope and opportunity for all.
Thank you, God bless California, and God bless the United States of America.
Speech written for Democratic candidate Xavier Becerra by ChatGPT.
Commissioned by MvR, June 19, 2026. ✍️