Xavier Becerra makes history as California's first elected Latino governor

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Set us as preferred Xavier Becerra, who grew up in a 685-square-foot house with his parents and three sisters in working-class Sacramento before ascending to Stanford University, Congress and the White House Cabinet, will become California’s first directly elected Latino governor.The historic victory thrusts the unassuming Democrat into the forefront of California’s scathing fight with the Trump administration over immigration enforcement, federal funding for healthcare, the state of education and social issues.Becerra, 68, will also take the helm with a slate of economic opportunities: luring back Hollywood production, drawing international visitors to the 2028 Olympic Games and responsibly growing the artificial intelligence industry.But there are also a long list of challenges: grappling with worst-in-the-nation unemployment, solving an unrivaled housing shortage, and preparing for and responding to seemingly endless fires and floods.The Associated Press declared Becerra the winner at 8 p.m.Tuesday.

He beat Republican Steve Hilton, a conservative commentator and former British political strategist backed by President Trump.Becerra was expected to address supporters at his election night party in West Sacramento later Tuesday evening.At his own election party in Garden Grove, Hilton acknowledged his party’s challenges as Democrats swept to victory nationwide.

“Obviously, as we are seeing already from some of the results from around the country, this is not the best year to be running as a Republican anywhere,” Hilton told reporters.“But I’m very proud that we’ve put a positive, practical alternative to 16 years of one-party rule, and we’ll see what progresses.”Becerra spent more than 25 years in Congress before he was appointed California attorney general and, later, secretary of Health and Human Servic...