Democratic gubernatorial candidate Xavier Becerra has shifted away from single-payer healthcare, a position he championed for decades in Congress. He is now pursuing incremental health reforms instead, following a path similar to Governor Gavin Newsom, who backed away from single payer after his own election as governor.
A Notable Policy Retreat
Becerra, a 12-term U.S. congressman and former HHS secretary under President Joe Biden, stated: “Since my early years in Congress, I have been an advocate for single payer. While I believe single payer is possible, I believe we also need to pursue immediate wins.” His website now promotes a 12-point health care plan focused on delivering relief in the short term while building toward a universal system. At a candidate meeting with the California Medical Association, Becerra said he was not currently supportive of single payer, earning the CMA’s endorsement—while the powerful California Nurses Association threw its support behind billionaire Tom Steyer, a full proponent of single payer.
Political Realities
Becerra’s campaign aides attributed the position shift to current political climate realities. A standalone California single-payer system would require federal cooperation on Medicaid and Medicare reallocations, which the Trump-directed agencies would not permit. Jonathan Underland, a campaign spokesperson, said: “Single payer is the right goal, but we need to be realistic about what’s possible under the Trump Administration.” Federal cuts are expected to reduce Medi-Cal funding by as much as $30 billion a year.
Proposed Alternatives
Becerra’s plan focuses on boosting preventive care, maintaining coverage for people threatened by federal cuts, investing in primary care, expanding telehealth, and growing the health care workforce through loan repayment assistance and housing support in high-cost areas.
This article is an AI-assisted summary. All facts and figures are drawn from the original report: https://timesofsandiego.com/politics/2026/05/23/governors-race-xavier-becerra-single-payer-healthcare/