sacramento — In his first news conference since being elected governor, Xavier Becerra remained noncommittal on tax, energy and health care policies, refusing even to commit to reversing a campaign promise to reverse cuts to health insurance coverage for undocumented immigrants.
But he insists he’s already working with the Legislature on how to provide critical services and lower the cost of living.
“I can’t make a commitment without knowing exactly what I’m facing,” Becerra said of reversing cuts to California’s health care program. “I don’t think any voter, any taxpayer, any Californian wants the governor to act like a politician on the campaign trail.”
The governor-elect spoke to reporters Thursday afternoon inside the state Capitol, where he had just concluded a meeting with Speaker Robert Rivas and Senate President Pro Tempore Monique Limon. The three Democrats appeared side by side in a show of unity between the two branches of government that sometimes —tricky relationship.
“You should get used to this,” Becerra said, pointing his thumb at lawmakers on either side. Advertisement
Becerra did not provide specific details on his plans to ease inflationary pressures. Asked whether he would consider lowering income tax rates for California’s low- and moderate-income residents, he responded that “everything should be on the table.”
“You’re probably going to hear me say that a lot, whether it’s on energy, whether it’s on income tax policy, whether it’s on health care,” he said. “Why would we give anything away? We’ll explore it. Ultimately, what should be kept is what’s smart and meaningful.”
Although Becerra did not support a billionaire wealth tax on Tuesday’s vote, he has repeatedly said he believes the state’s wealthiest people should contribute their fair share.
As a trained lawyer with more than 25 years in Congress, Becerra has earned a reputation as a thoughtful politician who takes his time to carefully consider decisions.
Rivas and Limon were similarly noncommittal when asked about Becerra’s proposal to provide two hours of free electricity per day to low-income people, which he calls “power hours.”
“Can there be some consistency in this idea of electrical time?” Rivas asked. “It’s possible, but I don’t know enough about this proposal yet.”
“There’s an opportunity here to think about both short-term and long-term” energy issues, Limon added.
Three of California’s most powerful elected leaders – all Latino for the first time – discussed health care, energy costs, artificial intelligence and funding for the $11.25 billion housing bond voters approved on Tuesday in their private meeting. Becerra, the state’s first directly elected Latino governor, answered several questions in Spanish.
Top Democrats will begin deciding early next year how to allocate the state’s hundreds of billions of dollars in the budget.
The state has expanded Medi-Cal coverage to undocumented residents for several years, but the costs have proven higher than expected. In an October 2025 report, the Legislative Analyst’s Office estimated that the program expansion would cost the general fund $10 billion annually, “more than double the original estimate.”
However, thousands of undocumented immigrants Leave the program After President Trump took office last year.
Gov. Gavin Newsom and lawmakers imposed an enrollment freeze and $30 monthly premiums for working-age undocumented adults that will take effect next year.
Becerra’s campaign website says he will “direct state agencies to protect access to necessary, medically appropriate care from federal restrictions, including reproductive health care and health care for immigrant communities.”
Shortly before the press conference, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass acknowledged that challenger Nithya Raman had lost the election. Becerra offered congratulations and said he would be in touch with the mayor-elect soon.
“I hope I can change the relationship with local governments,” Becerra said, adding that he wants his administration to work closely with mayors and county supervisors across the state. “I know local governments sometimes worry that Sacramento is not paying attention to them and is cheating them.”
Earlier in the day, Steve Hilton, the Republican candidate Becerra defeated, said at the Capitol that he hoped his opponent “can and will bring about the change that people want to see in California.”
“Ordinary working people in California are in despair,” Hilton said, his voice shaking with emotion. “No matter what they do over the next four years, I really hope they understand that Californians are on the verge of collapse.”