A top political firm tied to Gov. Gavin Newsom is working to funnel union cash into Xavier Becerra’s bid for governor — cementing the dark horse Dem as frontrunner even as he’s dogged by a Sacramento scandal involving his former aide.
Bearstar Strategies, longtime consultants for Newsom, are leading an independent expenditure committee to help Becerra ‘s campaign — adding to a considerable war chest for the Dem who was languishing at the bottom of polls only days ago.
The spending committee, called “Working Families for Healthy Communities Supporting Becerra for Governor 2026,” has not yet reported any contributions but has initial funds from the California State Council of Laborers and the California Primary Care Association Advocates, Politico reported.
San Francisco-based Bearstar Strategies is considered a clutch player in Newsom’s orbit, working helping to get him elected governor and fighting the failed effort to recall him in 2021.
Becerra’s campaign has also reportedly tapped top Newsom advisor Lindsey Cobia and Courtni Pugh, both of who have worked with the governor for years, as senior advisors for his campaign.
The former Health and Human Services secretary has billed himself as a no-drama Democrat with leadership experience. But critics have painted him as part of a Sacramento swamp that was exposed in a corruption scandal last year.
Becerra’s former top aide, Sean McCluskie, pled guilty to his role in an alleged scheme to grift $225,000 from the politician’s dormant campaign account to pay for lifestyle expenses, including a no-show job for McCluskie’s wife.
Dana Williamson, Newsom’s former chief of staff, was also charged with skimming thousands to pay for vacations and luxury bags and is reportedly discussing a possible plea deal with federal prosecutors, per KCRA.
“Let’s be absolutely clear, the FBI has a file on Xavier Becerra. In their wiretaps of Becerra’s campaign manager Dana Williamson and Xavier’s chief of staff,” Democratic consultant Mike Trujillo, who’s backing rival Antoniio Villaragosa’s campaign for governor, wrote on X.
“How many times does Xavier Becerra’s name appear in their evidence collection process. 5,000 times?” he added.
Becerra has denied any knowledge of the alleged corruption scheme.
Becerra’s formerly longshot campaign got a major boost from the dramatic departure of Eric Swalwell, who resigned from Congress and ended his governor bid after he was accused of sexual assault and harassment.
The longtime California poll said Friday he’d raised more than $3 million in the past two weeks.
In a matter of days, the former Health and Human Services secretary’s popularity shot from single digits to as high as 24% in some polls — raising the likelihood that Becerra could advance to the general election under California’s top-two “jungle primary” system.
Becerra was tied with Republican Steve Hilton for first place, according to one EMC Research survey conducted this month.
Newsom has stubbornly refused to make an endorsement in the governor’s race, often sounding blase about the crowded Democratic field.
He claimed he wasn’t paying attention to the race to succeed him in March, but indicated this month he would support “a Democrat” in the election.
