November 3, 2026
In a Historic Election, Becerra Becomes the First Latino Elected Governor Since California Statehood
Los Angeles, Calif. (Nov. 3, 2026) — The California Immigrant Policy Center (CIPC) congratulates Xavier Becerra on his election as California’s next governor. The son of Mexican immigrant parents, born and raised in Sacramento, Governor-elect Becerra will be the first Latino elected governor since California statehood.
“We congratulate Governor-elect Becerra on this historic election and are excited to work with him to build a healthier, more affordable and safer California,” said Masih Fouladi, Executive Director of CIPC. “Tonight, we also celebrate the new American voters who made their voices heard, including those casting a ballot for the first time. For immigrant families, seeing the son of Mexican immigrants become governor carries tremendous meaning. We are ready to help make that sense of belonging real through policies that treat every Californian with dignity, regardless of immigration status.”
The governor-elect takes office as fear of immigration enforcement keeps families from the doctor, from food aid and from their kids’ schools — even when they’re eligible for help. That fear doesn’t stay in immigrant households. It reaches every classroom, workplace and clinic in California.
This summer, CIPC held eight regional listening sessions across California. Immigrant families told us they want four things from the next governor: safety from deportation and surveillance, access to health care they can use without fear, a California they can afford, and education and training opportunities that open doors for them and their kids.
“Across our regional listening sessions, families were clear: they want to get health care without fear, afford a life here, keep their families together and create opportunities for their children,” Fouladi said. “Federal cuts to health care and food assistance, rising costs, and violent detentions and deportations make that work urgent. We look forward to partnering with the governor-elect to restore and expand access to care and food, and strengthen economic opportunity. and protect families from detention, deportation and surveillance.”
“Californians voted for a state that doesn’t back down,” Fouladi said. “Now, we stand ready to build it — together. Defending due process, protecting the freedom to speak out and organize and making government responsive to our communities are essential to a healthy democracy. We will bring our communities’ experience and ideas to this partnership and get to work.”
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