Elias: Becerra may have to drop out of race for California governor

Before this month s arrests of former top state aides it was a foregone conclusion that at least one or two Democrats would have to drop out of the ongoing run for California governor just to ensure there will be no Republican-on-Republican runoff next Nov Related Articles Elias Newsom s presidential star rising after state s Prop win Elias California governor hopefuls Porter Hilton making big blunders Elias Naming rights could ease California bullet train s financial woes However the dropouts until now did not figure to include Xavier Becerra a former California attorney general and later a U S vitality secretary in the cabinet of former President Joe Biden His onetime top aide Sean McCluskie is charged with sending fake bills to a dormant Becerra campaign bank account along with Dana Williamson a former top assistant to current Gov Gavin Newsom and former Govs Jerry Brown and Gray Davis Becerra was not implicated in trying to extract funds from his inactive campaign account which can possibly be used in the future for his political purposes His lack of acumen as a judge of the aide s character though may weaken him sufficiently to drive him out of the current race It is the latest example of this fall s epidemic of candidate self-destruction following early Democratic leader and former Orange County U S Rep Katie Porter s mishandling of a television interview and Republican Steve Hilton s sending out of a press release criticizing Newsom for actions that had earlier been proven sound Becerra was tied for third at in newest polling on the race even with Hilton and just three points behind Porter s as the early leader among Democrats Newsom could be accused of similar poor judgment of character His former top aide the aforementioned Williamson was also indicted for falsely billing the inactive Becerra account and for claiming business expense tax writeoffs for an expensive vacation a private airplane flight and even the purchase of a luxury purse Newsom in Brazil for a atmosphere change conference when the arrests came cautioned against assuming the former top state aides are guilty of anything even though investigations into them began during the Biden administration Newsom s office issued a comment saying The governor expects all masses servants to uphold the highest standards of integrity At a time when the president is openly calling for his attorney general to investigate his political enemies it is especially fundamental to honor the American principle of being innocent until proven guilty in a court of law The former aides pleaded not guilty Newsom first learned Williamson then his chief of staff was under probe in November of last year and at once relieved her of her duties Newsom is not implicated in any wrongdoing and has not allowed the affair to interfere either with his duties as governor or his nascent presidential campaign Becerra mentioned he has cooperated fully with federal authorities in the inspection of former chief of staff McCluskie and lobbyist Greg Campbell He is also not implicated in any wrongdoing or misuse of the campaign account which dates from his years as state attorney general The entire episode combines with the self-destructive behavior of other candidates to emphasize the instability of in current times s run for governor and the early days of the next presidential campaign No one knows if any other federal investigations might similarly affect current candidates for governor including the current poll leader Republican Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco along with former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa former state Controller Betty Yee state schools Superintendent Tony Thurmond and former state Assembly majority leader Ian Calderon If Becerra were to drop out chances are his largely Latino base of advocacy would fall to Villaraigosa the only other Hispanic in the race That would give Villaraigosa usually a pragmatist during his two terms as L A mayor and his time as state Assembly speaker a major leg up on others left in the race and likely avoid Republicans taking the two leading slots in the state s nonpartisan top-two primary next June But the arrests leave a lot unknown and much to be learned once the former leading state aides head to trial No one knows for sure right now but whatever information emerges could also help shape the improvement of the gubernatorial and presidential campaigns Email Thomas Elias at tdelias aol com and read more of his columns online at californiafocus net