Latest news with #XavierBecerra
Yahoo
30-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Harris says she won't run for governor of California
Democratic former US vice president Kamala Harris says she will not run for governor of California, ending speculation that the failed presidential candidate would seek the high-profile post. "I have given serious thought to asking the people of California for the privilege to serve as their Governor. I love this state, its people, and its promise. It is my home. But after deep reflection, I've decided that I will not run for Governor in this election," she said in a statement. Harris said she would not run for office now, leaving the door open for a possible presidential bid in 2028 after unsuccessful bids in 2020 and 2024. My statement on the California governor's race and the fight ahead. — Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) July 30, 2025 "For now, my leadership - and public service - will not be in elected office. I look forward to getting back out and listening to the American people, helping elect Democrats across the nation who will fight fearlessly, and sharing more details in the months ahead about my own plans," she said. Harris has kept a relatively low profile since losing the presidential election to Republican Donald Trump in 2024. California Governor Gavin Newsom, a Democrat who has held the post since 2019, cannot run for re-election due to term limits. Other high-profile Democrats have announced their candidacy including Xavier Becerra, who served as health and human services director under former president Joe Biden and former US representative Katie Porter. with AP
CTV News
30-07-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
Kamala Harris will not run for California governor in 2026
Former U.S. vice-president Kamala Harris announced Wednesday that she would not run for governor of California in 2026, ending questions about her interest in the role but raising new ones about the 2024 Democratic presidential nominee's plans for the future. 'For now, my leadership — and public service — will not be in elected office,' she said in a statement released Wednesday. 'I look forward to getting back out and listening to the American people, helping elect Democrats across the nation who will fight fearlessly, and sharing more details in the months ahead about my own plans.' In the aftermath of her loss to U.S. President Donald Trump, Harris and her team indicated that she would take some time to assess her next steps, which included considering a run for governor of California or potentially another run for president in 2028. Harris had loomed over the potential field in California as a heavy favorite, which still features several other prominent Democrats including former Rep. Katie Porter, former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, and former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra. The party is favored to hold the office in the deep-blue state. But Harris also faced skepticism from some home-state Democrats, concerned about baggage from her unsuccessful White House campaign and the potential drag across the state's battleground U.S. House districts that could be pivotal in the midterms. Amid the drawn-out deliberations, Harris had reached out to former California governors to ask what she could get done on the job and asked aides for research and memos that outlined other options. Among those options: Starting a 501(c)(4) organization focused on the information ecosystem and how to empower younger voters while rethinking institutions key to democracy, creating a political action committee to raise money for other candidates, and doing a listening tour of U.S. southern states with a 2028 presidential bid in mind. Harris wanted to make the decision about running before an expected fall book tour was announced. That announcement is coming soon. Her thinking, according to a person familiar with her deliberations, was that she would have time for all of these if she didn't run for governor. 'I have extraordinary admiration and respect for those who dedicate their lives to public service — service to their communities and to our nation,' she said in her Wednesday statement. 'At the same time, we must recognize that our politics, our government, and our institutions have too often failed the American people, culminating in this moment of crisis. As we look ahead, we must be willing to pursue change through new methods and fresh thinking — committed to our same values and principles, but not bound by the same playbook.' Harris' future Two people who have spoken with Harris stressed that the announcement should not be taken as a definite sign she will run for president again. Harris made the decision announced Wednesday after returning from a trip to the United Kingdom last week for the wedding of the daughter of her friend and longtime donor Laurene Powell Jobs. For weeks, she had been giving people she spoke with the impression that she was edging away from running. She told one person who spoke with her that she felt she could have the biggest impact by leading 'from the outside.' Harris and several close friends worried that she would get caught up in the granularity of running for governor, especially because they figured she'd have to over-exert herself to prove her bona fides that she wasn't taking the race for granted, and that would take her out of bigger discussions she very much still wants to be a part of. 'To run for governor, you have to get more specific and granular to what the legislature is working on – and she's needed in the national conversation,' the first person who spoke to her told CNN. As for running for president again, 'it means she doesn't have to make a decision right now, but she can spend time leading.'
CNN
30-07-2025
- Politics
- CNN
Kamala Harris will not run for California governor in 2026
Former Vice President Kamala Harris announced Wednesday that she would not run for governor of California in 2026, ending questions about her interest in the role but raising new ones about the 2024 Democratic presidential nominee's plans for the future. 'For now, my leadership — and public service — will not be in elected office,' she said in a statement released Wednesday. 'I look forward to getting back out and listening to the American people, helping elect Democrats across the nation who will fight fearlessly, and sharing more details in the months ahead about my own plans.' In the aftermath of her loss to President Donald Trump, Harris and her team indicated that she would take some time to assess her next steps, which included considering a run for governor of California or potentially another run for president in 2028. Harris had loomed over the potential field in California as a heavy favorite, which still features several other prominent Democrats including former Rep. Katie Porter, former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, and former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra. The party is favored to hold the office in the deep-blue state. But Harris also faced skepticism from some home-state Democrats, concerned about baggage from her unsuccessful White House campaign and the potential drag across the state's battleground US House districts that could be pivotal in the midterms. Amid the drawn-out deliberations, Harris had reached out to former California governors to ask what she could get done on the job and asked aides for research and memos that outlined other options. Among those options: Starting a 501(c)(4) organization focused on the information ecosystem and how to empower younger voters while rethinking institutions key to democracy, creating a political action committee to raise money for other candidates, and doing a listening tour of Southern states with a 2028 presidential bid in mind. Harris wanted to make the decision about running before an expected fall book tour was announced. That announcement is coming soon. Her thinking, according to a person familiar with her deliberations, was that she would have time for all of these if she didn't run for governor. 'I have extraordinary admiration and respect for those who dedicate their lives to public service — service to their communities and to our nation,' she said in her Wednesday statement. 'At the same time, we must recognize that our politics, our government, and our institutions have too often failed the American people, culminating in this moment of crisis. As we look ahead, we must be willing to pursue change through new methods and fresh thinking — committed to our same values and principles, but not bound by the same playbook.' Two people who have spoken with Harris stressed that the announcement should not be taken as a definite sign she will run for president again. Harris made the decision announced Wednesday after returning from a trip to the United Kingdom last week for the wedding of the daughter of her friend and longtime donor Laurene Powell Jobs. For weeks, she had been giving people she spoke with the impression that she was edging away from running. She told one person who spoke with her that she felt she could have the biggest impact by leading 'from the outside.' Harris and several close friends worried that she would get caught up in the granularity of running for governor, especially because they figured she'd have to over-exert herself to prove her bona fides that she wasn't taking the race for granted, and that would take her out of bigger discussions she very much still wants to be a part of. 'To run for governor, you have to get more specific and granular to what the legislature is working on – and she's needed in the national conversation,' the first person who spoke to her told CNN. As for running for president again, 'it means she doesn't have to make a decision right now, but she can spend time leading.'
Reuters
18-07-2025
- Health
- Reuters
Texas judge dismisses Humana challenge to Medicare plan ratings
July 18 (Reuters) - A Texas federal judge dismissed a lawsuit brought by health insurer Humana (HUM.N), opens new tab challenging the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' reduction in its star ratings for government-funded Medicare plans. Humana filed the lawsuit in September 2023 in the Northern District of Texas against the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and former Health Secretary Xavier Becerra.
Newsweek
24-06-2025
- Health
- Newsweek
Former HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra: They Created a Crisis in LA To Cover for a Catastrophe in D.C.
Advocates for ideas and draws conclusions based on the interpretation of facts and data. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. This month, Californians filled the streets of Los Angeles to peacefully demand justice for SEIU President David Huerta—who was violently detained by ICE during an immigration protest—and for so many hardworking immigrant families across our state. The response? Tear gas. Rubber bullets. National Guard troops unnecessarily deployed to flex federal muscle. And a United States senator literally wrestled to the ground for daring to ask basic questions. This wasn't just an overreaction. It was a message: fall in line—or face the consequences. Xavier Becerra, former secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), speaks during a news conference at HHS headquarters on March 9, 2023, in Washington, D.C. Xavier Becerra, former secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), speaks during a news conference at HHS headquarters on March 9, 2023, in Washington, the same time, in Washington, the Trump administration is dismantling the very systems that keep our families safe and healthy. They're firing scientists, defunding cancer research, slashing Medicaid, and replacing trusted experts with conspiracy theorists. It's not just policy failure. It's a campaign of calculated neglect—and political retribution aimed at states like ours that dare to push back. As the former secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), I saw firsthand what it takes to protect our country's health and safety. Agencies like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) don't just manage disease outbreaks or approve new treatments—they're the invisible safety net beneath our health system. When that net is torn apart, we all fall. In just six months, the Trump administration has launched a full-scale assault on these safeguards. They've gutted funding, laid off thousands of career scientists, and shuttered key public health teams—all while claiming these cuts are about "efficiency." Let's be clear: this isn't streamlining. It's sabotage. This administration didn't just fire the experts tracking avian flu, which has now infected dozens of people in California and is spreading rapidly through livestock. They disbanded the FDA team investigating the lead-contaminated applesauce that poisoned more than 500 children. They cut NIH programs working to prevent cancer and Alzheimer's. They even fired the CDC's vaccine advisory panel—weeks after a measles outbreak, as pregnant women and children remain vulnerable to viruses like COVID-19—only to replace them with vaccine skeptics. Meanwhile, Republicans in Congress are advancing $700 billion in cuts to Medicaid to fund new tax breaks for the wealthiest. In California, that means ripping health coverage away from 3.4 million Medi-Cal recipients and 1.5 million Covered California enrollees. That's children losing care, seniors losing nursing home support, and tens of thousands of rural Californians left with no local doctor or clinic to turn to. If you're a parent, a caregiver, or someone simply trying to stay healthy, these cuts hit you directly. It's hard not to see the throughline: while public health systems are being dismantled by federal recklessness in Washington, dissent is being inflamed by federal overreach in Los Angeles. It's distraction politics at its most dangerous. When the CDC's lab is shuttered, you don't see the consequences right away, but they come. Outbreaks missed. Treatments delayed. Trust eroded. The Trump administration is not protecting American lives. They are endangering them—and California cannot wait for Washington to come to its senses. This moment is both unprecedented and familiar. As California's attorney general during Trump's first term, I led the fight to save the Affordable Care Act and protect health coverage for millions. As HHS Secretary, I worked to expand that care to more than 300 million Americans, cut down drug overdose deaths, and fund community health centers nationwide. In the middle of crises, we've proven what it takes to lead the charge and build a health system that puts people first. That's how I know it's California's time to lead. We need to act now to build a public health infrastructure that's resilient, independent, and tailored to Californians' needs—not the whims of D.C. extremists. That could mean recruiting the best medical professionals and experts this administration drove out to help California shape its own health agenda. It could mean building a statewide early-warning system for disease detection, or launching new public-private health partnerships. And it must mean protecting Medi-Cal and expanding access to care, not retreating. We can't allow Meals on Wheels or support for seniors to disappear. We can't let overdose prevention programs or mental health hotlines go dark. And we can't stand by while Washington plays politics with our health, our future, and our hardest-working families. This is our break-glass moment. California has always set the standard—from clean air and water to reproductive freedom. Now we must do the same for public health and human dignity. The road ahead won't be easy, but we know what's at stake. Let's fight for our future by building the strong, sustainable health infrastructure we deserve—because we know that our health security isn't just our national security. It's California's calling. Let's get to work. Xavier Becerra is a former attorney general of California and U.S. secretary of Health and Human Services. The views expressed in this article are the writer's own.
