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Xavier Becerra
DWon the General, 2016 California U.S. House District 34
Won the General, 2012 California U.S. House District 34
U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services (2021 - Present)
To be claimed
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
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
Astrological Sign:
Aquarius
1. Do you generally support pro-choice or pro-life legislation?
- Pro-choice
In order to balance the budget, do you support an income tax increase on any tax bracket?
- Yes
Do you support mandatory minimum sentences for non-violent drug offenders?
- Unknown Position
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
Do you generally support requiring states to adopt federal education standards?
- Unknown Position
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
Do you support the federal regulation of greenhouse gas emissions?
- Yes
Do you generally support gun-control legislation?
- Yes
Do you support repealing the 2010 Affordable Care Act ("Obamacare")?
- No
1. Do you support requiring immigrants who are unlawfully present to return to their country of origin before they are eligible for citizenship?
- No
Do you support same-sex marriage?
- Yes
Do you support increased American intervention in Iraq and Syria beyond air support?
- Yes
1. Do you support allowing individuals to divert a portion of their Social Security taxes into personal retirement accounts?
- No
1. What is your stance on abortion?
- Pro-choice
Should there be more restrictions on the current process of purchasing a gun?
- Yes
Do you support the legalization of same sex marriage?
- Yes
Should gay couples have the same adoption rights as straight couples?
- Yes
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
Should the government enforce a "stay-at-home" order to combat the coronavirus?
- Yes
Should the government increase environmental regulations to prevent climate change?
- Yes
Should the government continue to fund Planned Parenthood?
- Yes
Do you support the impeachment of President Donald Trump?
- Yes
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
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
Should health insurers be allowed to deny coverage to individuals who have a pre-existing condition?
- No
Should police officers be required to wear body cameras?
- Yes
Should the federal government institute a mandatory buyback of assault weapons?
- Yes
Should a business be able to deny service to a customer if the request conflicts with the owner’s religious beliefs?
- No
Should the government regulate the prices of life-saving drugs?
- Yes, and we should socialize medicine and healthcare
Should "gender identity" be added to anti-discrimination laws?
- Yes
Should teachers be allowed to carry guns at school?
- No
Should health insurance providers be required to offer free birth control?
- Yes
Should adults that are illegally attempting to cross the U.S. border be separated from their children?
- No
Should the U.S. raise taxes on the rich?
- Yes
Should the government increase funding for mental health research and treatment?
- Yes
When should your state end the "Stay at Home" order and reopen its economy?
- Until a vaccine is approved by the FDA
Should the U.S. build a wall along the southern border?
- No
Should there be a temporary ban on all immigration into the United States?
- No
Do you support increasing taxes for the rich in order to reduce interest rates for student loans?
- Yes
Should the government raise the federal minimum wage?
- Yes
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
Should local police increase surveillance and patrol of Muslim neighborhoods?
- No, targeting Muslims is unconstitutional, racist, and incendiary
Should the federal government pay for tuition at four-year colleges and universities?
- Yes
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
Should the military allow women to serve in combat roles?
- Yes, preventing women from serving in combat roles is discriminatory
Should businesses be required to provide paid leave for full-time employees during the birth of a child or sick family member?
- Yes
Should the U.S. go to war with Iran?
- No
Should illegal immigrants have access to government-subsidized healthcare?
- Yes, if they pay taxes
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
1. Should children of illegal immigrants be granted legal citizenship?
- Yes
Should every 18 year old citizen be required to provide at least one year of military service?
- No
Should immigrants be deported if they commit a serious crime?
- Yes, as long as it is safe for them to return to their country
Should the U.S. remain in the United Nations?
- Yes
Are you in favor of decriminalizing drug use?
- Yes
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
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
Do you support the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Obamacare)?
- Yes
Should there be term limits set for members of Congress?
- Yes, term limits will increase performance and prevent corruption
Do you support the legalization of Marijuana?
- Yes
Should the electoral college be abolished?
- Yes
Should the U.S. raise or lower the tax rate for corporations?
- Raise
Should local law enforcement be allowed to detain illegal immigrants for minor crimes and transfer them to federal immigration authorities?
- No
Do you support the death penalty?
- No
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
Do you support the use of hydraulic fracking to extract oil and natural gas resources?
- No, we should pursue more sustainable energy resources instead
Should the government attempt to influence foreign elections?
- No, and we should not try to influence any other country’s elections or policy
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
Do you support a single-payer healthcare system?
- Yes
Should immigrants be required to learn English?
- No, we should embrace the diversity that immigrants add to our country
Should it be illegal to join a boycott of Israel?
- No, this is a violation of free speech
Should working illegal immigrants be given temporary amnesty?
- Yes, create a simple path to citizenship for immigrants with no criminal record
Should sanctuary cities receive federal funding?
- Yes
Should transgender athletes be allowed to compete in athletic events?
- Yes
1. Should the U.S. remain in NATO?
- Yes, but NATO should focus more on counter-terrorism strategies
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
Should the government give tax credits and subsidies to the wind power industry?
- Yes, the government should support more sustainable energy technologies
Should the President be able to authorize military force against Al-Qaeda without Congressional approval?
- No
Should states be allowed to display the Confederate flag on government property?
- No, it is a symbol of racism, separatism and treason
Should foreigners, currently residing in the United States, have the right to vote?
- Yes
Do you support the killing of Iranian Major General Qassem Soleimani?
- No
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
Should illegal immigrants be offered in-state tuition rates at public colleges within their residing state?
- Yes
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
Should the U.S. increase restrictions on its current border security policy?
- No, make it easier for immigrants to access temporary work visas
Should a photo ID be required to vote?
- No
Should businesses be required to have women on their board of directors?
- No, the government should never require the diversity of private businesses
Should the government hire private companies to run prisons?
- No, private prisons will sacrifice quality of care and rehabilitation services for profit
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
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
Should disposable products (such as plastic cups, plates, and cutlery) that contain less than 50% of biodegradable material be banned?
- Yes
Should welfare recipients be tested for drugs?
- No
Should the U.S. expand offshore oil drilling?
- No, and provide more incentives for alternative energy production
Should the U.S. continue to support Israel?
- We should give equal support to Israel and Palestine.
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
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
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
Should the U.S. withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement?
- No
Should the government make cuts to public spending in order to reduce the national debt?
- No
1. Should corporations, unions, and non-profit organizations be allowed to donate to political parties?
- No, and political campaigns should be publicly funded
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
Do you support the Patriot Act?
- No, and pass strict laws prohibiting government surveillance without probable cause and a warrant
Should people be required to work in order to receive Medicaid?
- No, the vast majority of people who receive Medicaid are disabled
Do you support a universal basic income program?
- Yes, everyone should receive an income to cover basic necessities including food and housing
Should the federal government be allowed to negotiate drug prices for Medicare?
- Yes
Should universities provide "trigger warnings" and "safe spaces" for students?
- Yes
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
Should it be illegal to burn the American flag?
- No, this is a violation of free speech
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
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
Should there be fewer or more restrictions on current welfare benefits?
- Fewer, and ensure benefits go to those that need it most
Do you believe labor unions help or hurt the economy?
- Help, in theory but have recently become corrupt and should have their powers limited
Should the government pass laws which protect whistleblowers?
- Yes, but only if releasing the information does not threaten our national security
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
Should women be allowed to wear a Niqab, or face veil, to civic ceremonies?
- Yes, we should respect all cultural traditions
Should the government increase or decrease military spending?
- Decrease
Should the Supreme Court be reformed to include more seats and term limits on judges?
- Yes
Should prisons ban the use of solitary confinement for juveniles?
- Yes, and we should create more social programs to help prevent and rehabilitate criminals
Should the IRS create a free electronic tax filing system?
- Yes
Should the U.S. accept refugees from Syria?
- Yes
Do you support affirmative action programs?
- Yes
Do you support Common Core national standards?
- Yes, I support the concept but not the current implementation
Should the US assassinate suspected terrorists in foreign countries?
- No
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
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%)
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
Should the government stop construction of the Dakota Access pipeline?
- Yes
Should the US increase or decrease foreign aid spending?
- Increase
Should the U.S. send ground troops into Syria to fight ISIS?
- No, we should stay out of this conflict
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
Should the government be allowed to seize private property, with reasonable compensation, for public or civic use?
- Yes
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
Should foreign terrorism suspects be given constitutional rights?
- Yes, give them a fair trial and shut down Guantanamo Bay
Should the government use economic stimulus to aid the country during times of recession?
- Yes, but in the form of increased spending on infrastructure
Should there be more or less privatization of veterans’ healthcare?
- Less, we should increase funding to improve the current system instead
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
Should producers be required to label genetically engineered foods (GMOs)?
- Yes, but I would prefer to ban GMOs
Should the federal government fund Universal preschool?
- Yes
Should convicted criminals have the right to vote?
- Yes
Should the United States pull all military troops out of Afghanistan?
- Yes
Should immigrants to the United States be allowed to hold dual citizenship status?
- Yes, unless they have committed an act of terrorism
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
Do you support mandatory minimum prison sentences for people charged with drug possession?
- No
Should the U.S. continue to participate in the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)?
- Yes, NAFTA helps lower the prices of consumer products
Should the current estate tax rate be decreased?
- No, and increase it at a progressive rate
Do you support the use of nuclear energy?
- No, we should invest in cleaner alternatives such as wind, hydroelectric, thorium, and geothermal
Should drug traffickers receive the death penalty?
- No, I do not believe in the death penalty
Should the government fund space travel?
- Yes, and drastically increase NASA’s current budget
Should the U.S. formally declare war on ISIS?
- No, we should not legitimize ISIS as a sovereign entity
Do you support President Obama’s move to lift the trade and travel embargo on Cuba?
- Yes
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
Should the U.S. increase tariffs on imported products from China?
- No
Should the U.S. provide military assistance to defend Ukraine from Russia?
- No, we should pursue diplomatic options instead
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
Should the government break up Amazon, Facebook and Google?
- No
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
Should the Federal Reserve Bank be audited by Congress?
- Yes, we deserve to know who the bank gives money to
Should the government subsidize farmers?
- Yes, but only small local farms instead of large corporations
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
Should the U.S. continue NSA surveillance of its allies?
- No, spying on our allies severely damages our reputation abroad
Should U.S. citizens be allowed to save or invest their money in offshore bank accounts?
- No
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
Should the U.S. government grant immunity to Edward Snowden?
- Yes, he should be protected under the Whistleblower Protection Act
Do you support charter schools?
- Yes, but not at the expense of funding public schools
Should the U.S. prevent Russia from conducting airstrikes in Syria?
- No, all airstrikes should be conducted through UN coordination
Should non-violent prisoners be released from jail in order to reduce overcrowding?
- Yes
Do you support the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP)?
- Yes
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
Should pension payments be increased for retired government workers?
- Yes, adjust them yearly for cost of living
Should the government increase spending on public transportation?
- Yes
Should Jerusalem be recognized as the capital of Israel?
- No
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
Should the government decriminalize school truancy?
- Yes
Should the Chinese government be able to extradite fugitives from Hong Kong?
- No
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
Should the government cancel production of the F-35 fighter?
- Yes
Should the government classify Bitcoin as a legal currency?
- No, and it has no intrinsic value
Should the government acquire equity stakes in companies it bails out during a recession?
- No
Should the United States acquire Greenland?
- No
Should the military upgrade Air Force One?
- No, not until the cost ($4B) is dramatically reduced
Should sports betting be legal?
- Yes, but let each state decide
Latest Action: 12/06/2018 Became Public Law No: 115-283.
Tracker:Latest Action: House - 05/17/2017 Motion to Discharge Committee filed by Mr. Swalwell (CA). Petition No: 115-2.
Tracker:Latest Action: House - 12/08/2016 Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.
Tracker: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."
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."
Thur 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM EDT
