Overview
- At Tuesday’s CNN debate, rivals from both parties made Xavier Becerra the main target, pressing him on migrant child placements, a campaign‑finance scandal, and shifting health care stances as early voting begins.
- Becerra rejected attacks on his HHS tenure as a “MAGA talking point” and later as “Trump lies,” while opponents cited a 2024 HHS inspector general report that found missed sponsor checks, missing state abuse checks, and no required follow‑ups for many released minors.
- Former Biden DOJ spokesperson Xochitl Hinojosa said on CNN she does not trust Becerra to stand up to President Trump and called him ineffective, while top Biden allies Ron Klain and Neera Tanden publicly defended his performance.
- Critics highlighted an indictment alleging Becerra’s former chief of staff, Sean McCluskie, stole about $225,000 from Becerra’s dormant campaign account, and Becerra said prosecutors would have named him if he were involved.
- A new California Democratic Party poll shows Becerra tied at 18% with Republican Steve Hilton as mail ballots land, raising pressure on Democrats to evaluate a crowded field before the June 2 top‑two primary.