Xavier Becerra
Xavier Becerra | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Official portrait, 2021 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 25th United States Secretary of Health and Human Services | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office March 19, 2021 – January 20, 2025 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| President | Joe Biden | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Deputy | Andrea Palm | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Alex Azar | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Robert F. Kennedy Jr. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 33rd Attorney General of California | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office January 24, 2017 – March 18, 2021 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Governor | Jerry Brown Gavin Newsom | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Kathleen Kenealy (acting) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Matthew Rodriquez (acting) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office January 3, 1993 – January 24, 2017 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Edward Roybal (redistricted) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Jimmy Gomez | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Constituency | 30th district (1993–2003) 31st district (2003–2013) 34th district (2013–2017) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Member of the California State Assembly from the 59th district | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office December 3, 1990 – December 3, 1992 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Charles Calderon | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Dick Mountjoy | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal details | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | January 26, 1958 Sacramento, California, U.S. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Party | Democratic | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Spouse | Carolina Reyes (m. 1989) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Children | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Education | Stanford University (BA, JD) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Xavier Becerra (Latin American Spanish: [xaˈβjeɾ βeˈsera]; born January 26, 1958) is an American attorney and politician who served as the 25th United States secretary of health and human services from March 2021 to January 2025. A member of the Democratic Party, Becerra previously served as the attorney general of California from January 2017 until March 2021.
Born in Sacramento, California, Becerra received a bachelor's degree and a J.D. degree from Stanford University. In 1986, he worked as an administrative assistant for state senator Art Torres. He served as a deputy attorney general in the California Department of Justice from 1987 to 1990. Between 1990 and 1992, he was a member of the California State Assembly.
First elected to the House of Representatives in 1992, Becerra was the chairman of the U.S. House Democratic Caucus from 2013 to 2017. He is a candidate for governor of California in the 2026 election.