REPORT 🚨: During CNN's Gubernatorial debate, Xavier Becerra stated that his parents "came to this country with $12". This is a line he has repeatedly used during his campaign for Governor.
The only problem? His dad was born IN California, and the timeline is not adding up.🧵
The only problem? His dad was born IN California, and the timeline is not adding up.🧵
In a separate interview, Becerra again said that his parents "came" to this country with only $12 in their pocket, the insinuation being that his parents were both immigrants from Mexico.
An important take away here, is him stating his dad came (to CA) in his 20's. ⛳️
An important take away here, is him stating his dad came (to CA) in his 20's. ⛳️
This story has tugged at the hearts of many immigrant voters who say Becerra resonates with their story.
However, according to an obituary article by the Sacramento Bee, the father of Xavier, Manuel Guerrero Becerra, was born IN California. "the eldest of eight".
However, according to an obituary article by the Sacramento Bee, the father of Xavier, Manuel Guerrero Becerra, was born IN California. "the eldest of eight".
In this same obituary, it states his fathers family moved to Mexico, but that his father would return to the U.S. but not as an immigrant, not with $12 in his pocket, and not in his 20's, but as a "young teenager", and instead of returning to school, he would work instead.
It also states his father did in fact marry in his 20's to his wife he would meet in Jalisco MX, and he brought her back with him to CA, but this after "several years" of already being a railroad worker.
The obituary also states they would purchase a home "soon after" marriage.
The obituary also states they would purchase a home "soon after" marriage.
In researching the history of this "just $12" campaign line, the earliest recorded use of it is the day he announced his candidacy for Governor of California, with a press release using that exact phrase, on April 2, 2025 on Contra Costa News.
No earlier records exist.
No earlier records exist.
The fact that this line was in his campaign launch, meant that this was a story that was pre-planned, and repeated often, to tug at the story of millions of immigrant voters in CA, many of them from Mexico.
But outside of him saying it, there is no evidence of it being true.
But outside of him saying it, there is no evidence of it being true.
And again, it is important to note, this father's own obituary denies, or at least does not substantiate Xavier's claims of them arriving with only $12 in their pocket, as his father, a US Citizen, had been working for years before marrying, and purchasing a home shortly after.
With this information being publicly available, how was a campaign story launched on the day of his campaign not been fact-checked?
I reached out to @XavierBecerra campaign press relations team, and they declined to comment on this story after asking what outlet I was with.
I reached out to @XavierBecerra campaign press relations team, and they declined to comment on this story after asking what outlet I was with.
@XavierBecerra For anyone searching for the story, it even prompts that this "$12" campaign slogan has been a "central narrative in his gubernatorial campaign to highlight the 'California Dream' and his working-class roots" to connect with voters."
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