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Quick Facts
Personal Details

Caucuses/Former Committees

Secretary, Executive Committee, Democratic Study Group Steering Committee

Former Vice Chair, House Democratic Caucus

Vice Chair, Minority Caucus, United States House of Representatives

Chair, Congressional Hispanic Caucus, 1997-1998

Education

  • JD, Stanford University Law School, 1984
  • BA, Economics, Stanford University, 1980

Professional Experience

  • JD, Stanford University Law School, 1984
  • BA, Economics, Stanford University, 1980
  • Former Assistant to the Speaker, United States House of Representatives
  • Deputy Attorney General, California Department of Justice, 1987-1990
  • Administrative Assistant, Office of California Senator Art Torres, 1986
  • Staff Attorney, Legal Assistance Corporation of Central Massachusetts, 1984-1985

Political Experience

  • JD, Stanford University Law School, 1984
  • BA, Economics, Stanford University, 1980
  • Former Assistant to the Speaker, United States House of Representatives
  • Deputy Attorney General, California Department of Justice, 1987-1990
  • Administrative Assistant, Office of California Senator Art Torres, 1986
  • Staff Attorney, Legal Assistance Corporation of Central Massachusetts, 1984-1985
  • Attorney General, State of California, 2017-present
  • Chair, Minority Caucus, United States House of Representatives, 2013-2017
  • Representative, United States House of Representatives, District 34, 1993-2017
  • Assembly Member, California State Assembly, 1990-1992

Former Committees/Caucuses

Secretary, Executive Committee, Democratic Study Group Steering Committee

Former Vice Chair, House Democratic Caucus

Vice Chair, Minority Caucus, United States House of Representatives

Chair, Congressional Hispanic Caucus, 1997-1998

Religious, Civic, and other Memberships

  • JD, Stanford University Law School, 1984
  • BA, Economics, Stanford University, 1980
  • Former Assistant to the Speaker, United States House of Representatives
  • Deputy Attorney General, California Department of Justice, 1987-1990
  • Administrative Assistant, Office of California Senator Art Torres, 1986
  • Staff Attorney, Legal Assistance Corporation of Central Massachusetts, 1984-1985
  • Attorney General, State of California, 2017-present
  • Chair, Minority Caucus, United States House of Representatives, 2013-2017
  • Representative, United States House of Representatives, District 34, 1993-2017
  • Assembly Member, California State Assembly, 1990-1992
  • Member, Board of Regents, Smithsonian Institution, present
  • Co-Chair, Congressional Friends of Spain, present
  • Board Member, Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute, present
  • Member, Hispanic Outreach Advisory Board, National Parent Teacher Association, present
  • Member, Mexican American Bar Association, present
  • Member, Mexican American State Legislators Policy Institute, present
  • Council Member, National Museum of African American History and Culture, Smithsonian Institute, present
  • Vice Chair, United States-Korea Interparliamentary Exchange, present
  • Former Board Member, Close Up Foundation
  • Former Board Member, Pitzer College

Other Info

Astrological Sign:

Aquarius

Policy Positions

2021

Abortion

1. Do you generally support pro-choice or pro-life legislation?
- Pro-choice

Budget

In order to balance the budget, do you support an income tax increase on any tax bracket?
- Yes

Crime

Do you support mandatory minimum sentences for non-violent drug offenders?
- Unknown Position

Economy

1. Do you support federal spending as a means of promoting economic growth?
- Yes

2. Do you support lowering taxes as a means of promoting economic growth?
- Yes

Education

Do you generally support requiring states to adopt federal education standards?
- Unknown Position

Energy

1. Do you support building the Keystone XL pipeline?
- No

2. Do you support government funding for the development of renewable energy (e.g. solar, wind, thermal)?
- Yes

Environment

Do you support the federal regulation of greenhouse gas emissions?
- Yes

Guns

Do you generally support gun-control legislation?
- Yes

Health Care

Do you support repealing the 2010 Affordable Care Act ("Obamacare")?
- No

Immigration

1. Do you support requiring immigrants who are unlawfully present to return to their country of origin before they are eligible for citizenship?
- No

Marriage

Do you support same-sex marriage?
- Yes

National Security

Do you support increased American intervention in Iraq and Syria beyond air support?
- Yes

Social Security

1. Do you support allowing individuals to divert a portion of their Social Security taxes into personal retirement accounts?
- No

2020

Abortion

1. What is your stance on abortion?
- Pro-choice

Gun Control

Should there be more restrictions on the current process of purchasing a gun?
- Yes

Gay Marriage

Do you support the legalization of same sex marriage?
- Yes

LGBT Adoption Rights

Should gay couples have the same adoption rights as straight couples?
- Yes

Equal Pay

Should employers be required to pay men and women the same salary for the same job?
- Yes, and businesses should be required to publish their salary ranges for each position

Stay At Home Order

Should the government enforce a "stay-at-home" order to combat the coronavirus?
- Yes

Climate Change

Should the government increase environmental regulations to prevent climate change?
- Yes

Planned Parenthood Funding

Should the government continue to fund Planned Parenthood?
- Yes

Trump Impeachment

Do you support the impeachment of President Donald Trump?
- Yes

Mandatory Vaccinations

Should the government require children to be vaccinated for preventable diseases?
- Yes, they are essential to protecting other children who are too young to be vaccinated

Marital Rape

Should marital rape be classified and punished as severely as non-marital rape?
- Yes, and consentual sex with a spouse under the age of 18 should be classified as statutory rape

Pre-Existing Conditions

Should health insurers be allowed to deny coverage to individuals who have a pre-existing condition?
- No

Police Body Cameras

Should police officers be required to wear body cameras?
- Yes

Gun Buyback

Should the federal government institute a mandatory buyback of assault weapons?
- Yes

Religious Freedom Act

Should a business be able to deny service to a customer if the request conflicts with the owner’s religious beliefs?
- No

Drug Price Regulation

Should the government regulate the prices of life-saving drugs?
- Yes, and we should socialize medicine and healthcare

Gender Identity

Should "gender identity" be added to anti-discrimination laws?
- Yes

Armed Teachers

Should teachers be allowed to carry guns at school?
- No

Government Mandates

Should health insurance providers be required to offer free birth control?
- Yes

Immigrant Children

Should adults that are illegally attempting to cross the U.S. border be separated from their children?
- No

Taxes

Should the U.S. raise taxes on the rich?
- Yes

Mental Health

Should the government increase funding for mental health research and treatment?
- Yes

Stay-At-Home Order

When should your state end the "Stay at Home" order and reopen its economy?
- Until a vaccine is approved by the FDA

Border Wall

Should the U.S. build a wall along the southern border?
- No

Immigration Ban

Should there be a temporary ban on all immigration into the United States?
- No

Student Loans

Do you support increasing taxes for the rich in order to reduce interest rates for student loans?
- Yes

Minimum Wage

Should the government raise the federal minimum wage?
- Yes

Muslim Immigrants

Should Muslim immigrants be banned from entering the country until the government improves its ability to screen out potential terrorists?
- No, banning immigrants based on their religion is unconstitutional

Muslim Surveillance

Should local police increase surveillance and patrol of Muslim neighborhoods?
- No, targeting Muslims is unconstitutional, racist, and incendiary

Free College for All

Should the federal government pay for tuition at four-year colleges and universities?
- Yes

Gerrymandering

Should the redrawing of Congressional districts be controlled by an independent, non-partisan commission?
- Yes, gerrymandering gives an unfair advantage to the party in power during redistricting

Women in Combat

Should the military allow women to serve in combat roles?
- Yes, preventing women from serving in combat roles is discriminatory

Paid Sick Leave

Should businesses be required to provide paid leave for full-time employees during the birth of a child or sick family member?
- Yes

Iran

Should the U.S. go to war with Iran?
- No

Immigration Healthcare

Should illegal immigrants have access to government-subsidized healthcare?
- Yes, if they pay taxes

No-Fly List Gun Control

Should people on the "no-fly list" be banned from purchasing guns and ammunition?
- Yes, if the government considers you too dangerous to board a plane you should not be able to buy a gun

Immigration

1. Should children of illegal immigrants be granted legal citizenship?
- Yes

Mandatory Military Service

Should every 18 year old citizen be required to provide at least one year of military service?
- No

Deporting Criminal Immigrants

Should immigrants be deported if they commit a serious crime?
- Yes, as long as it is safe for them to return to their country

United Nations

Should the U.S. remain in the United Nations?
- Yes

Drug Policy

Are you in favor of decriminalizing drug use?
- Yes

Foreign Lobbying

Should foreign lobbyists be allowed to raise money for American elections?
- No, foreign interests should not be able to buy the influence of our politicians

Medicaid

Should the federal government increase funding of health care for low income individuals (Medicaid)?
- Yes, but I prefer switching to a single payer healthcare system

Obamacare

Do you support the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Obamacare)?
- Yes

Term Limits

Should there be term limits set for members of Congress?
- Yes, term limits will increase performance and prevent corruption

Marijuana

Do you support the legalization of Marijuana?
- Yes

Electoral College

Should the electoral college be abolished?
- Yes

Corporate Tax

Should the U.S. raise or lower the tax rate for corporations?
- Raise

Illegal Immigrant Detainment

Should local law enforcement be allowed to detain illegal immigrants for minor crimes and transfer them to federal immigration authorities?
- No

Death Penalty

Do you support the death penalty?
- No

Campaign Finance

1. Should there be a limit to the amount of money a candidate can receive from a donor?
- Yes, politicians should not be bought by wealthy donors

Fracking

Do you support the use of hydraulic fracking to extract oil and natural gas resources?
- No, we should pursue more sustainable energy resources instead

Foreign Elections

Should the government attempt to influence foreign elections?
- No, and we should not try to influence any other country’s elections or policy

NSA Domestic Surveillance

Should the NSA (National Security Agency) be allowed to collect basic metadata of citizen’s phone calls such as numbers, timestamps, and call durations?
- No, only with a warrant showing probable cause of criminal activity

Single-Payer Healthcare

Do you support a single-payer healthcare system?
- Yes

Immigrant Assimilation

Should immigrants be required to learn English?
- No, we should embrace the diversity that immigrants add to our country

Israel Boycott

Should it be illegal to join a boycott of Israel?
- No, this is a violation of free speech

Immigrant Laborers

Should working illegal immigrants be given temporary amnesty?
- Yes, create a simple path to citizenship for immigrants with no criminal record

Sanctuary Cities

Should sanctuary cities receive federal funding?
- Yes

Transgender Athletes

Should transgender athletes be allowed to compete in athletic events?
- Yes

NATO

1. Should the U.S. remain in NATO?
- Yes, but NATO should focus more on counter-terrorism strategies

Gun Liability

Should victims of gun violence be allowed to sue firearms dealers and manufacturers?
- Yes, any business should be held liable if the primary use of its product is for illegal activity

Alternative Energy

Should the government give tax credits and subsidies to the wind power industry?
- Yes, the government should support more sustainable energy technologies

Military Congressional Approval

Should the President be able to authorize military force against Al-Qaeda without Congressional approval?
- No

Confederate Flag

Should states be allowed to display the Confederate flag on government property?
- No, it is a symbol of racism, separatism and treason

Right of Foreigners to Vote

Should foreigners, currently residing in the United States, have the right to vote?
- Yes

Soleimani

Do you support the killing of Iranian Major General Qassem Soleimani?
- No

Torture

Should the military be allowed to use enhanced interrogation techniques, such as waterboarding, to gain information from suspected terrorists?
- No, torture is inhumane, unethical, and violates the 8th amendment

In-State Tuition

Should illegal immigrants be offered in-state tuition rates at public colleges within their residing state?
- Yes

Social Media Regulation

Should the government regulate social media sites, as a means to prevent fake news and misinformation?
- No, the government should not determine what is fake or real news

Border Security

Should the U.S. increase restrictions on its current border security policy?
- No, make it easier for immigrants to access temporary work visas

Voter Fraud

Should a photo ID be required to vote?
- No

Gender Workplace Diversity

Should businesses be required to have women on their board of directors?
- No, the government should never require the diversity of private businesses

Private Prisons

Should the government hire private companies to run prisons?
- No, private prisons will sacrifice quality of care and rehabilitation services for profit

Corporate Mega Mergers

Should the government prevent "mega mergers" of corporations that could potentially control a large percentage of market share within its industry?
- Yes, and the government should break up existing mega corporations

Net Neutrality

Should internet service providers be allowed to speed up access to popular websites (that pay higher rates) at the expense of slowing down access to less popular websites (that pay lower rates)?
- No

Plastic Product Ban

Should disposable products (such as plastic cups, plates, and cutlery) that contain less than 50% of biodegradable material be banned?
- Yes

Welfare Drug Testing

Should welfare recipients be tested for drugs?
- No

Oil Drilling

Should the U.S. expand offshore oil drilling?
- No, and provide more incentives for alternative energy production

Israel

Should the U.S. continue to support Israel?
- We should give equal support to Israel and Palestine.

Citizenship Test

Should immigrants be required to pass a citizenship test to demonstrate a basic understanding of our country’s language, history, and government?
- Yes, but it should only cover very basic and simple topics

Euthanasia

Should terminally ill patients be allowed to end their lives via assisted suicide?
- Yes, but only after a psychological examination to show they fully understand this choice

Candidate Transparency

Should political candidates be required to release their recent tax returns to the public?
- Yes, and require a public audit each year they are in office

Paris Climate Agreement

Should the U.S. withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement?
- No

Government Spending

Should the government make cuts to public spending in order to reduce the national debt?
- No

Campaign Finance

1. Should corporations, unions, and non-profit organizations be allowed to donate to political parties?
- No, and political campaigns should be publicly funded

Skilled Immigrants

Should the US increase or decrease the amount of temporary work visas given to high-skilled immigrant workers?
- Increase, our economy relies on businesses hiring the highest skilled workers at the lowest cost

Patriot Act

Do you support the Patriot Act?
- No, and pass strict laws prohibiting government surveillance without probable cause and a warrant

Medicaid Work Requirement

Should people be required to work in order to receive Medicaid?
- No, the vast majority of people who receive Medicaid are disabled

Universal Basic Income

Do you support a universal basic income program?
- Yes, everyone should receive an income to cover basic necessities including food and housing

Medicare Drug Prices

Should the federal government be allowed to negotiate drug prices for Medicare?
- Yes

Safe Spaces

Should universities provide "trigger warnings" and "safe spaces" for students?
- Yes

Lobbyists

Should there be a 5-year ban on White House and Congressional officials from becoming lobbyists after they leave the government?
- Yes, and ban all forms of lobbying

Flag Burning

Should it be illegal to burn the American flag?
- No, this is a violation of free speech

North Korea Military Strikes

Should the U.S. conduct military strikes against North Korea in order to destroy their long-range missile and nuclear weapons capabilities?
- No, we must use every diplomatic option first

Minimum Voting Age

Should the minimum voting age be lowered?
- No, and voters should be required to pass a basic test demonstrating their understanding of politics in order to vote

Welfare

Should there be fewer or more restrictions on current welfare benefits?
- Fewer, and ensure benefits go to those that need it most

Labor Unions

Do you believe labor unions help or hurt the economy?
- Help, in theory but have recently become corrupt and should have their powers limited

Whistleblower Protection

Should the government pass laws which protect whistleblowers?
- Yes, but only if releasing the information does not threaten our national security

Yemen

Should the U.S. provide military aid to Saudi Arabia during its conflict with Yemen?
- No, and cut ties with Saudi Arabia until they end their human rights violations

Niqab

Should women be allowed to wear a Niqab, or face veil, to civic ceremonies?
- Yes, we should respect all cultural traditions

Military Spending

Should the government increase or decrease military spending?
- Decrease

Supreme Court Reform

Should the Supreme Court be reformed to include more seats and term limits on judges?
- Yes

Solitary Confinement for Juveniles

Should prisons ban the use of solitary confinement for juveniles?
- Yes, and we should create more social programs to help prevent and rehabilitate criminals

Free Tax Filing

Should the IRS create a free electronic tax filing system?
- Yes

Syrian Refugees

Should the U.S. accept refugees from Syria?
- Yes

Affirmative Action

Do you support affirmative action programs?
- Yes

Common Core

Do you support Common Core national standards?
- Yes, I support the concept but not the current implementation

Foreign Assassination

Should the US assassinate suspected terrorists in foreign countries?
- No

First Amendment

Should the government support a separation of church and state by removing references to God on money, federal buildings, and national monuments?
- Yes, but do not waste money removing existing references

Capital Gains Tax

Should the government increase the tax rate on profits earned from the sale of stocks, bonds, and real estate?
- Yes, and increase to the average U.S. tax rate (31.5%)

Safe Haven

Should cities open drug "safe havens" where people who are addicted to illegal drugs can use them under the supervision of medical professionals?
- Yes, drug abuse should be treated as a health issue, not a criminal issue

Dakota Access Pipeline

Should the government stop construction of the Dakota Access pipeline?
- Yes

Foreign Aid

Should the US increase or decrease foreign aid spending?
- Increase

ISIS Ground Troops

Should the U.S. send ground troops into Syria to fight ISIS?
- No, we should stay out of this conflict

Overtime Pay

Should the government require businesses to pay salaried employees, making up to $46k/year, time-and-a-half for overtime hours?
- Yes, and all employees should be paid time-and-a-half for overtime hours regardless of their pay scale

Eminent Domain

Should the government be allowed to seize private property, with reasonable compensation, for public or civic use?
- Yes

Drones

Should the military fly drones over foreign countries to gain intelligence and kill suspected terrorists?
- No, only to gather intelligence, not to kill suspected terrorists

Terrorism

Should foreign terrorism suspects be given constitutional rights?
- Yes, give them a fair trial and shut down Guantanamo Bay

Economic Stimulus

Should the government use economic stimulus to aid the country during times of recession?
- Yes, but in the form of increased spending on infrastructure

VA Privatization

Should there be more or less privatization of veterans’ healthcare?
- Less, we should increase funding to improve the current system instead

Social Security

1. Should the government raise the retirement age for Social Security?
- No, this will disadvantage low income seniors whose life expectancy is lower than wealthier seniors

GMO Labels

Should producers be required to label genetically engineered foods (GMOs)?
- Yes, but I would prefer to ban GMOs

Universal Pre-K

Should the federal government fund Universal preschool?
- Yes

Criminal Voting Rights

Should convicted criminals have the right to vote?
- Yes

Afghanistan

Should the United States pull all military troops out of Afghanistan?
- Yes

Dual Citizenship

Should immigrants to the United States be allowed to hold dual citizenship status?
- Yes, unless they have committed an act of terrorism

Criminal Politicians

Should a politician, who has been formerly convicted of a crime, be allowed to run for office?
- Yes, as long as it was not a felony, violent, financial, or sexual crime

Mandatory minimum prison sentences

Do you support mandatory minimum prison sentences for people charged with drug possession?
- No

NAFTA

Should the U.S. continue to participate in the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)?
- Yes, NAFTA helps lower the prices of consumer products

Estate Tax

Should the current estate tax rate be decreased?
- No, and increase it at a progressive rate

Nuclear Energy

Do you support the use of nuclear energy?
- No, we should invest in cleaner alternatives such as wind, hydroelectric, thorium, and geothermal

Drug Trafficking Penalties

Should drug traffickers receive the death penalty?
- No, I do not believe in the death penalty

Space Exploration

Should the government fund space travel?
- Yes, and drastically increase NASA’s current budget

War on ISIS

Should the U.S. formally declare war on ISIS?
- No, we should not legitimize ISIS as a sovereign entity

Cuba

Do you support President Obama’s move to lift the trade and travel embargo on Cuba?
- Yes

Tariffs

Should the government add or increase tariffs on products imported into the country?
- No, a global free trade system is better for our businesses and consumers

China Tariffs

Should the U.S. increase tariffs on imported products from China?
- No

Ukraine

Should the U.S. provide military assistance to defend Ukraine from Russia?
- No, we should pursue diplomatic options instead

Domestic Jobs

Should the President offer tax breaks to individual companies to keep jobs in the U.S.?
- No, but drastically increase taxes and import tariffs on outsourcing businesses

Tech Monopolies

Should the government break up Amazon, Facebook and Google?
- No

NATO

1. Should the U.S. defend other NATO countries that maintain low military defense budgets relative to their GDP?
- Yes, and refusing to defend other NATO countries sets a dangerous precedent for the balance of global power

Federal Reserve

Should the Federal Reserve Bank be audited by Congress?
- Yes, we deserve to know who the bank gives money to

Farm Subsidies

Should the government subsidize farmers?
- Yes, but only small local farms instead of large corporations

Property Taxes

Would you favor an increased sales tax in order to reduce property taxes?
- No, property taxes are the most reliable and consistent form of state revenue

NSA Surveillance

Should the U.S. continue NSA surveillance of its allies?
- No, spying on our allies severely damages our reputation abroad

Offshore Banking

Should U.S. citizens be allowed to save or invest their money in offshore bank accounts?
- No

Pension Reform

Should pension plans for federal, state, and local government workers be transitioned into privately managed accounts?
- No, privately managed accounts will jeopardize the financial security of senior citizens

Edward Snowden

Should the U.S. government grant immunity to Edward Snowden?
- Yes, he should be protected under the Whistleblower Protection Act

Charter Schools

Do you support charter schools?
- Yes, but not at the expense of funding public schools

Russian Airstrikes in Syria

Should the U.S. prevent Russia from conducting airstrikes in Syria?
- No, all airstrikes should be conducted through UN coordination

Prison Overcrowding

Should non-violent prisoners be released from jail in order to reduce overcrowding?
- Yes

Trans-Pacific Partnership

Do you support the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP)?
- Yes

India Arms

Should the U.S. sell military weapons to India in order to counter Chinese and Russian influence?
- No, and we should increase diplomatic efforts to resolve conflicts peacefully

Government Pensions

Should pension payments be increased for retired government workers?
- Yes, adjust them yearly for cost of living

Public Transportation

Should the government increase spending on public transportation?
- Yes

Jerusalem

Should Jerusalem be recognized as the capital of Israel?
- No

Online Sales Tax

Should an in-state sales tax apply to online purchases of in-state buyers from out-of-state sellers?
- No, the federal government does not have the authority to impose state and local taxes

School Truancy

Should the government decriminalize school truancy?
- Yes

Hong Kong Fugitive Extradition

Should the Chinese government be able to extradite fugitives from Hong Kong?
- No

Corporate Subsidies

Should cities be allowed to offer private companies economic incentives to relocate?
- Yes, if the company promises to create new jobs by hiring local residents

F-35

Should the government cancel production of the F-35 fighter?
- Yes

Bitcoin

Should the government classify Bitcoin as a legal currency?
- No, and it has no intrinsic value

State Ownership

Should the government acquire equity stakes in companies it bails out during a recession?
- No

Greenland

Should the United States acquire Greenland?
- No

Air Force One

Should the military upgrade Air Force One?
- No, not until the cost ($4B) is dramatically reduced

Sports Betting

Should sports betting be legal?
- Yes, but let each state decide

Congress Bills
Speeches
Articles

Politico - Trump Fuels Democratic Voter Surge

May 24, 2016

By Daniel Strauss When the deadline to register to vote in California's June 7 primary closes Monday evening, Democrats are expected to be the big winners. The party has enjoyed a dramatic spike in registration since the beginning of the year -- and they have Donald Trump to thank for it… "To many people this campaign has become very personal. There's a crusade involved to many people. And there's an effort to prove Donald Trump wrong and this has taken on a different dimension for a lot of voters," California Rep. Xavier Becerra, chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, said in an interview with POLITICO on Monday. "There are no guarantees, but this could be a harbinger of what happened with a lot of folks who are already registered but not necessarily frequent voters. This could signal a wave that's coming. It could mean it's a change election. I suspect it's not just in the state of California where this is being felt." Becerra added: "Sometimes you need something to make people want to get out there, and here you have the case of this election where I think it's become a very personal experience for a lot of people."

New York Times - As Xavier Becerra Stirs Crowds, Hispanic Democrats See a Running Mate

May 9, 2016

By David Herszenhorn Representative Xavier Becerra, Democrat of California, had loaded the question for precise effect. "How many people here can say they are immigrants, the child of immigrants or the grandchild of immigrants?" he asked the boisterous, screaming supporters waiting for Hillary Clinton on Thursday in a gymnasium at East Los Angeles College just outside his center-city district. "This election is personal, very personal, right?" Mr. Becerra shouted, as the crowd roared back in agreement. "You have got to get out there. I've got to get out there, because they are talking about us." Mr. Becerra, who as the No. 4 Democrat in the House is the highest-ranking Hispanic lawmaker in the party, has made the fight against Donald J. Trump and Republicans personal. On Spanish-language television, where he is recognizable to millions of viewers, he has become the most prominent and outspoken advocate of Mrs. Clinton to a constituency she hopes to win over in huge numbers to capture the White House. It is a task Democrats hope has been made easier by Mr. Trump's derogatory comments about immigrants and his pledge to have Mexico build a wall at the border. But fortunes beyond Mrs. Clinton's are at stake. Mr. Becerra, who is serving his 24th year in the House, finds himself at age 58 blocked in his climb by more senior Democrats: the minority leader, Representative Nancy Pelosi of California; the whip, Representative Steny H. Hoyer of Maryland; and Representative James E. Clyburn of South Carolina, who ranks No. 3. Known among colleagues in Washington for his poise on camera and his discipline in staying on message -- equally fluently in English and Spanish -- Mr. Becerra is now the subject of hopeful whispering among some Hispanic Democrats as a long-shot prospect to be Mrs. Clinton's running mate. "When we were going through the list for Fritz Mondale back in 1984, nobody thought Gerry Ferraro was on the list," said Art Torres, a former California state senator and former longtime chairman of the state Democratic Party, who hired Mr. Becerra to be an aide in his district office in the mid-1980s. In an interview, Mr. Becerra candidly agreed that he would accept such an offer. "What do you do if you really believe in this kind of work?" he asked with a smile, as his car, driven by his district director, Liz Saldivar, maneuvered through a crowd of Bernie Sanders supporters who were protesting the Clinton rally. Some of them carried signs with slogans like "Deport Hillary Clinton." But Mr. Becerra also said he saw his future in the House, where he hoped to help lead a major overhaul of immigration laws that Mrs. Clinton has promised to pursue if she wins the White House. Unlike Representative Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, another rising star in the party who decided to run for the Senate this year rather than wait for other leadership positions to open up in the House, Mr. Becerra declined to seek the seat being vacated by Senator Barbara Boxer of California, who is retiring. While a Senate race would have been an expensive and risky bet -- a run for mayor of Los Angeles in 2001 was a total flop, getting him just 6 percent of the primary vote -- winning re-election to the House is a near certainty in his heavily immigrant downtown district, which includes parts of Chinatown, Koreatown and Boyle Heights, a largely Hispanic area. In 2014, Mr. Becerra won 72.5 percent of the vote, a low total for him, only because under a new primary system, he faced a fellow Democrat in the general election. In 2012, the last time he ran against a Republican, Mr. Becerra won 85.6 percent of the vote. By staying in the House, Mr. Becerra seems to be betting that his arduous campaigning on behalf of Mrs. Clinton -- he has held events for her in 10 states and made countless television appearances -- and his work to support fellow House Democrats will secure him a continued role in leadership, even if the path is so far uncertain. In the meantime, he seems to relish his role on the presidential campaign trail, and the speculation that comes with it. For those who play the insider game, Mr. Becerra was part of a three-person presidential delegation to the Vatican for the canonization Mass for Popes John XXIII and John Paul II in 2014. Joining him were John Podesta, the Clinton campaign chairman, who is expected to lead the vice-presidential selection process, and Katie Beirne Fallon, President Obama's former legislative affairs director, whose husband, Brian Fallon, is a spokesman for the Clinton campaign. Despite such connections, conventional wisdom would suggest that Mrs. Clinton, in a race against Mr. Trump, would need to broaden her appeal among white men. Still, Mr. Trump's unorthodox candidacy may make traditional calculations obsolete. Mr. Torres said Mr. Becerra would have a lot to offer the Democratic ticket, as a son of Mexican-American immigrants who went on to get economics and law degrees at Stanford, and whose reputation is unblemished. Mr. Becerra and his wife, Carolina Reyes, an obstetrician who specializes in high-risk pregnancies, have three daughters. "Totally an Eagle Scout -- I think he still drinks milk with his lunch," Mr. Torres said of Mr. Becerra. "Having served on some of these vice-presidential selection committees in the past, I can tell you: No. 1, first of all, is loyalty and trust. That has to be the top priority. He fits the bill. And he's articulate in both Spanish and English." That much was certainly clear as Mr. Becerra made the rounds in his district last week. Moments before jumping onstage, where he gave his speech in English, Mr. Becerra paused to give an interview to a local reporter from Univision, who wanted proof that Mrs. Clinton "nos conoce" -- that she "knows us." Mr. Becerra, continuing in Spanish, repeated a favorite saying, "Tell me with whom you walk, and I'll tell you who you are." "I know with whom I walk," he said, "because Hillary Clinton has walked with us for a long time."

Events

2020

Jun. 25
Our Lives on the Line: ACA Under Attack

Thur 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM EDT