Xavier Becerra gets defensive in first remarks since election night: dont play this game

California Gov.-elect Xavier Becerra said “everything should be on the table” to make the state more affordable in his first public statement since election night — before bristling over questions about what he’ll actually do.“I’m no longer a candidate; I’m now the governor-elect.So I will take this very seriously,” Becerra said. “But, guys, don’t play this game about asking me to commit, because I didn’t get elected doing that.” The biggest news, opinion and culture shaping California right now.

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Never miss a story The Democrat defeated Republican Steve Hilton in Tuesday’s election to succeed Gov.Gavin Newsom, extending his party’s control of the governor’s office to a fifth term after a campaign dominated by California’s high costs and anger toward President Donald Trump.

Becerra, who appeared alongside Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas and Senate President Pro Tem Monique Limón, promised a close partnership with legislative leaders and said announcements about his transition team would come soon.The three Democrats presented a united front on affordability, though Becerra offered few specifics about how he would deliver relief on housing, health care and energy.“The public made it very clear we should be focused on job one, two, and three, and that is cost of living, cost of living, cost of living,” he said.Asked whether that could include cutting taxes, Becerra left the door open — but he also suggested that wealthy residents should pay a higher tax rate than they do currently.“I think everything should be on the table,” Becerra said.“By the way, you’re probably going to be hearing me say that a lot, whether it’s on energy, whether it’s on revenue and tax policy, whether it’s on healthcare, why should we take anything off the table?”That openness gave way to...