Democratic gubernatorial candidate Xavier Becerra pledged to stand up against the federal government at a Los Angeles rally Sunday ahead of Election Day.
“I’m running to deliver a California we can afford, and I’m running to defend a California we can’t afford to lose,” he said at the rally.
Becerra – the former United States Secretary of Health and Human Services under former President Joe Biden as well as the former California Attorney General – spoke at the event as part of the Stop The Power Grab Tour at the Hollywood Palladium. Guest speakers, including former Vice President Kamala Harris and Gov. Gavin Newsom, called on attendees to help Democrats regain control of Congress.
Becerra is running against Republican candidate Steve Hilton for governor. Becerra finished first in the June 2 primary with 28% of the vote, followed by Hilton with 24.6%.
[Related: UCLA students weigh in on the California gubernatorial election]
Becerra urged attendees to elect Democrats to protect access to healthcare, fair wages for workers and the safety of immigrant communities.
“This election is a choice between reaching higher for California’s golden dream or descending further down Donald Trump’s golden, infamous escalator,” he said.
Hilton’s campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Becerra said in a speech that President Donald Trump has prioritized his own financial interests instead of helping families who have faced rising costs of living. Trump’s net worth has increased by $2.7 billion since his election in 2024, according to Forbes.
“It is the most monumental election,” Becerra said. “As we’re witnessing right now, democracy can be mugged by thugs cloaked in cheap gold, spewing cheaper promises.”
Becerra cited his own experiences in challenging Trump, pledging to confront what he sees as rising authoritarianism. As Attorney General, Becerra sued the first Trump administration 122 times, according to his campaign website.
Newsom said in a speech that a Democratic majority in the House of Representatives would restore a congressional check on Trump.
Newsom pointed to the Trump administration’s deployment of the National Guard and Marines to LA in June 2025 amid protests against federal immigration raids as an abuse of power.
“Donald Trump is not screwing around, nor are we,” Newsom said.
Harris said in a speech that many voters are frustrated with the Trump administration’s cuts to Medicaid and the rising costs of groceries and gas.
Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act is projected to reduce federal Medicaid spending by $911 billion through 2034 compared with previous projections, according to health policy organization KFF. Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows grocery and gas prices rose about 3.5% and 39.1%, respectively, from January 2025 to September 2026.
Harris praised Becerra’s public service and urged attendees to vote.
“We’re now in the phase where we can do something about it, where we can turn anger into action, where we can show the world who we are and what we care about,” she said.
Lillian Barrett, the president of Bruin Democrats at UCLA, said attending the rally energized the club’s members and allowed them to celebrate their hard work ahead of the midterms. The event allowed them to interact with the candidates they support and encourage turnout for Tuesday’s election, she added.
The governor directly shapes students’ lives, including the funding public universities receive, Barrett said. The governor proposes state funding for the UC and appoints 18 members of the UC Board of Regents.
[Related: A new governor will lead California. What does that mean for the UC’s funding?]
“The politicians that we elect matter, and especially as young people, it’s really important to find your voice in politics,” Barrett said.
Speakers also voiced opposition to Proposition 39, arguing that the ballot measure would make it more difficult for eligible Californians to vote.
Proponents of the measure contend that it would strengthen public trust in California’s electoral system and eliminate voter fraud, according to CalMatters.
[Related: Proposition 39 could introduce new voter ID requirements for Californians]
“Think about the fact that the greatest threat to our elections is not some hostile foreign power – it is the meddling of our own president,” Sen. Adam Schiff said at the rally.
Angelica Salas – the president of political advocacy group CHIRLA Action Fund, which endorsed Becerra – said in a speech that Proposition 39 could intimidate naturalized citizens and urged attendees to oppose the ballot measure.
Becerra has supported immigration reform and defended immigrant communities as California’s attorney general, Salas said.
“Our vote is about our future,” Salas said. “Our vote is about our families. It’s about making sure that our people can live without fear, that their families will stay united.”
If elected, Becerra would become California’s first Latino governor, Rep. Judy Chu said in a speech at the rally.
Becerra closed the event at about 6:40 p.m. by thanking volunteers who had supported his campaign and urged attendees to continue getting voters to the polls.
“I’m not running to make history,” he said. “I’m running to make a difference for you and the lives of every person who calls California home.”
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