Susan Rice Has Endorsed Xavier Becerra for Governor
Former official Susan Rice backed Xavier Becerra despite past disparaging remarks used by opponent Steve Hilton.
Updated on Oct. 2, 2026 in Commentary
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Susan Rice has publicly declared her support for Xavier Becerra in the California gubernatorial race via a statement on the social media platform X. This endorsement comes after Republican candidate Steve Hilton highlighted Rice's history of criticizing Becerra during a recent televised debate.
Why it matters
Steve Hilton is leveraging past negative characterizations of Becerra to challenge his viability, aiming to sway voters by focusing on his record as Health and Human Services secretary. The effort seeks to frame the candidate through the lens of internal administration conflicts.
Susan Rice has formally backed Xavier Becerra for governor, countering attacks regarding past derogatory comments. Steve Hilton specifically highlighted these 2024 remarks and launched a dedicated website to criticize Becerra's tenure as Health and Human Services secretary.
The players
Susan Rice
She is a former high-ranking administration official who previously worked alongside Xavier Becerra.
Xavier Becerra
He is a former Health and Human Services secretary currently running for governor of California.
Steve Hilton
He is a Republican candidate for California governor who is challenging Becerra's performance record.
Xochitl Hinojosa
She is a political commentator who previously criticized Becerra's leadership effectiveness.
The details
During a September 2026 CNN debate, Steve Hilton cited reports that Rice previously called Becerra an idiot and a bitch-ass. These critiques align with broader concerns regarding Becerra's effectiveness, which were also raised by Xochitl Hinojosa during a May 2026 appearance.
Timeline
In 2024, Susan Rice allegedly used derogatory terms toward Xavier Becerra.
In May 2026, Xochitl Hinojosa criticized Xavier Becerra on CNN.
On Tuesday, September 29, 2026, Steve Hilton mentioned the insults during a CNN debate.
On Friday, October 2, 2026, Susan Rice posted a statement of support on X.
Political Context
The ongoing focus on these past insults follows a pattern set by the 2024 Biden administration internal personnel conflicts that have surfaced during the current race. Opposition figures argue that these characterizations reflect a lack of cohesion and effectiveness during Becerra's tenure as secretary.
Voters must determine if past professional friction impacts a candidate's ability to govern the state effectively. This debate forces residents to weigh historical administration criticisms against the current policy platforms offered by the candidates.
The takeaway
The race highlights how old professional conflicts can be repurposed as political ammunition in modern campaigns. Voters should prioritize current policy proposals over the resurfacing of past private comments from former colleagues.
Further reading
For more analysis on this race, visit the California Commentary section.
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