A crowd of supporters listen to Xavier Becerra last month at Balboa Park. Photo by Paul Levikow
By Paul Levikow
May 6, 2026 (San Diego) — With ballots already arriving in mailboxes across San Diego County, the race for California governor is entering a volatile stretch marked by rising changing numbers, escalating attack ads, and a crowded field that has left voters sorting through dozens of names.
At a town hall event in a Balboa Park ballroom in April, Xavier Becerra stood before roughly 600 supporters and delivered a message that mixed personal history, policy proposals, and sharp criticism of President Donald Trump and wealthy political opponents.
“They’re coming after me, the billionaires, the big funders, because they’re afraid of you,” Becerra told the crowd, drawing loud applause. “Because they’re afraid of what you bring, because they are afraid of what you stand for, because they are afraid that we will show that you don’t need the billionaires to get elected to be governor of the state of California.”
The event, part of his “Fighting for the California Dream Tour,” offered a window into a race that has become increasingly competitive, with more than two candidates within reach of advancing to November.
Crowded ballot, shifting field
There are 61 candidates listed on the June 2 California gubernatorial primary ballot. Under California’s top-two system, the two candidates receiving the most votes will move on to the November general election regardless of party affiliation. The field has already seen shakeups. Two top-tier candidates have dropped out, adding uncertainty to a race where polling margins remain tight and campaign strategies are evolving quickly.
Among the remaining contenders are several high-profile figures. Two of them are Republicans. The rest are Democrats. Several candidates have drawn significant financial backing, contributing to a surge in television attack ads now saturating California airwaves.
Becerra suggested his recent gains in pre-election surveys have made him a target.“The reason they are coming after me, is because they are afraid of you,” he repeated, prompting another round of cheers.
From Sacramento to Washington and back
Becerra highlighted his decades of public service, tracing a career that spans 35 years from the California State Assembly to Congress, then to California Attorney General and U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services.
“California is ready to put their trust in someone who actually knows how to balance a budget,” he said. “For four years, I had to balance that budget.”
He noted that the federal health agency he led had a budget larger than that of the state of California and Department of Defense combined, framing his experience as preparation for managing the state’s finances.
“It is nice to have someone walk in to that governor’s office who knows how to balance a budget,” he said.
Housing, insurance and cost of living
Becerra focused heavily on affordability, an issue that resonated with attendees from across San Diego County, including East County homeowners dealing with rising insurance costs. He proposed declaring a state of emergency to address the affordability crisis.
“Working with the insurance commissioner and the industry, I will freeze home insurance premiums and utility rates,” he said.
The freeze, he added, would be temporary but necessary to understand why costs have surged.
“What I intend to do is pull the curtain back so we can see what’s going on,” said Becerra (photo, right by Paul Levikow). “We are at least entitled to know.”
He acknowledged that some homeowners in fire-prone areas may face higher risks, but insisted transparency is essential.
“Let’s find out. Let’s not just let them charge us more.”
On housing, Becerra drew a direct line to younger Californians struggling to enter the market.
“I need you and the rest of Californians to believe that we’re going to build the housing that we need,” he said. “They should not be bidding for that housing against Wall Street.”
Students and higher education
The presence of college students was evident, and Becerra singled out a group from the Dem Club of UC San Diego.
“For me, this race is about them,” he said.
He proposed making the first two years of community college tuition free.
“If you get into the school you want, community college, Cal State, UC, you’re going,” he said. “We have to restore its luster.”
Dr. Josh Franco of El Cajon, an associate professor at Cuyamaca College, asked how the plan would support community colleges.
“Under my watch, we will make the first two years tuition-free at community colleges,” Becerra responded, drawing applause from students in the room.
Health care and experience
A La Mesa resident asked about the future of Covered California, prompting Becerra to draw on his federal experience.
“We’re not going backwards on health care,” he said. “We are going to make sure every family gains access. California will be the backstop. It’s the fiscally responsible thing to do.”
He added a historical note, quoting Frederick Douglass: “It’s easier to build strong children than to repair broken men.”
Immigration enforcement
Questions turned more pointed when a Point Loma resident asked about federal immigration enforcement. Becerra did not hold back.
“This is a very different ICE,” he said. “This is Donald Trump’s personal mercenary force.”
He criticized tactics he described as lacking transparency and accountability.
“I have never seen an officer who hides his or her face so you can’t identify them,” he said. “It is not law enforcement as we know it.”
His call to abolish the current structure of ICE drew a standing ovation.
“We support constitutional law enforcement,” he said. “We support people who do law enforcement the way it should be.”
Border pollution crisis
The ongoing sewage crisis affecting the Tijuana River Valley also surfaced during the event.
Becerra said he had toured the impacted area earlier in the day with County Supervisor Paloma Aguirre.
“That is a health hazard down there,” he said. “I am prepared to declare a state of emergency.”
He acknowledged that such a declaration has limits but said it would help accelerate action.
“The federal government should declare a state of emergency as well,” he added.
Parks and public lands
Environmental concerns rounded out the discussion, including the future of national parks.
“California will continue to preserve its state parks and state lands,” Becerra said.
He also addressed potential federal actions.
“Donald Trump is not omnipotent,” he said. “He thinks he is, but he is not.”
The idea of privatizing national parks drew a strong reaction.
“Try to privatize our national parks? Those are fighting words,” Becerra said.
Voting in San Diego County
As campaigns intensify, voting is already underway. Ballots have begun arriving by mail for San Diego County voters.
Residents can vote in several ways:
- Return their mail ballot by postage-paid envelope
- Drop ballots at official drop boxes located throughout the county
- Vote in person at designated vote centers
Vote centers open ahead of Election Day and offer same-day voter registration, replacement ballots, and accessible voting options.
Election officials remind voters that ballots must be postmarked by Election Day or returned in person by the time polls close.