Xavier Becerra could become California's first elected Latino governor

California's race for governor has been called sleepy because Democrat Xavier Becerra is the heavy favorite. For many Latino Californians it is anything but quiet. If Becerra wins on Nov. 3, the state with the country's largest Latino population would elect a Latino governor for the first time. The only Latino to hold the job left office more than 150 years ago.

Why the moment feels historic

Only 11 Latinos have ever served as governor of any U.S. state. The last Latino to lead California was Romualdo Pacheco, who stepped up from lieutenant governor to finish a term in 1875 and served less than a year without being elected to the post.

Latinos make up about 40 percent of California's population and nearly 9 million eligible voters, the second largest voting bloc in the state. Half of California's children are Latino. Christian Arana of the Latino Community Foundation said seeing someone in the top job who looks like you and shares your experiences carries real weight.

UC Berkeley sociologist G. Cristina Mora said a Becerra win could prove a watershed. Time will tell whether it is a one-time event or a door that opens for many more Latino leaders, she said, but the symbolism matters a great deal.

An unlikely path to front-runner

Becerra, 68, is the son of Mexican immigrants and grew up in a working-class family. He served in the state Assembly and in Congress, then as California attorney general and as U.S. health secretary under President Joe Biden. He was a long shot until he won the June primary. Former Rep. Eric Swalwell had been seen as the leading Democrat before he suspended his campaign in April amid sexual assault allegations. Many of his backers then moved to Becerra.

His rise comes as other Latinos hold top posts. Monique Limón is majority leader of the state Senate, Robert Rivas is speaker of the Assembly and Alex Padilla represents California in the U.S. Senate.

Representation with results

Civil rights lawyer and policy adviser Sonja Díaz said representation without delivery is only symbolism. She traced today's Latino political strength to the backlash against Proposition 187 in the 1990s, the ballot measure that tried to bar undocumented immigrants from public services before courts struck it down.

Turnout remains a hurdle. About 47 percent of Latinos are counted as likely voters, compared with 54 percent of Asian Americans and Black Californians and 65 percent of white residents. A recent survey found 40 percent of Latino voters had not been contacted by any campaign or party this year.

Advocates say Becerra will be judged on everyday issues: the cost of living, housing, health care, homelessness, wildfire readiness and pushback against federal policies aimed at immigrant communities. "There is an expectation that he is going to deliver," Arana said, "because he's one of us."