Editor’s note: This article has been updated to reflect that Xavier Becerra’s debate qualification has not been confirmed. An earlier version incorrectly stated he had secured a spot in the April 22 debate.
This is a developing story that will be updated as more information becomes available.
Xavier Becerra is among candidates seeking to qualify for the April 22 gubernatorial debate after polling below the cutoff just days ago, as a rapid shift in the race fueled attention around what his campaign is calling a grassroots surge and a broader shakeup at the top of the field.
The development follows the abrupt exit of former front-runner Eric Swalwell, whose withdrawal amid multiple sexual misconduct allegations he has denied upended the Democratic field and triggered a scramble for voters and donors.
“I will fight the serious, false allegations that have been made — but that’s my fight, not a campaign’s,” Swalwell said in a statement announcing his departure.
Just a week ago, Becerra was polling at about 4%, below the 5% threshold required by Nexstar to qualify for the debate stage. As Scope Weekly previously reported, his campaign then saw a $400,000 fundraising spike driven largely by small-dollar donors, alongside a surge in volunteer signups and online engagement.
Campaign officials now describe the momentum as a grassroots movement gaining traction across the state, particularly among Latino voters and Democratic activists seeking an alternative in a suddenly unsettled race.
Becerra, a former U.S. health secretary and California attorney general, had called the allegations against Swalwell “deeply disturbing and troubling” and urged him to step aside. His campaign has since framed the moment as a turning point.
“This campaign has always been about building support from the ground up,” Becerra said in a statement this week. “What we’re seeing now is Californians stepping up and demanding leadership that reflects their values.”
The April 22 debate is expected to feature a wide range of candidates, including Becerra, Steve Hilton, Chad Bianco, Antonio Villaraigosa, Betty Yee, Tony Thurmond, Tom Steyer and Matt Mahan, reflecting the unusually crowded and fluid field, though final qualification has not yet been confirmed for all candidates.
Political analysts say the sudden shift underscores how quickly the race has changed.
“Swalwell’s departure narrows the field but also redistributes his coalition overnight,” said Christian Grose. “That creates opportunity for candidates who were not previously breaking through.”
Sarah Hill, a Cal State Fullerton political science professor, said the moment could help consolidate support in a fractured Democratic field. “It’s helping them focus and coordinate on a candidate,” she said.
The stakes are high under California’s top-two primary system, where only the two leading vote-getters advance to the general election regardless of party. With no clear frontrunner and the field still adjusting to Swalwell’s exit, even small shifts in support could prove decisive.
For Becerra, the debate represents more than a qualifying milestone. It is one of his first major opportunities to convert a fast-moving grassroots surge into sustained statewide support in a race that, just days ago, appeared out of reach.
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