GIFFORDS endorses Xavier Becerra for governor of California

WASHINGTON —  GIFFORDS PAC, the national gun violence prevention organization led by former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, released the following statement endorsing Secretary Xavier Becerra for governor of California.

“California has been a national leader on gun safety for decades, and every year the state has made strides in the fight to end gun violence with lifesaving investments and landmark legislation. It’s vital that we protect this progress, and I trust my friend and former colleague Xavier Becerra to get the job done,” said former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords. “Secretary Becerra has spent years working to build a healthier, safer America in Congress, in the courts, and most recently as the Secretary of Health and Human Services. He knows that the gun violence crisis is a public health epidemic that must be addressed with swift action. I’m proud to endorse him in this campaign, and look forward to working with him in Sacramento.”

Secretary Becerra has served Californians in elected and appointed office for decades. He was elected to the state assembly in 1990. He was then elected to Congress where he served from 1993 to 2017, when he was appointed attorney general of California. In this role, Secretary Becerra joined GIFFORDS Law Center in filing a 2020 lawsuit against the Trump administration to stop the spread of ghost guns. As attorney general, he defended California’s ban on large-capacity magazines, and challenged San Diego–based Glockstore’s attempts to sell dangerous aftermarket parts and ghost gun kits. 

As Secretary of Health and Human Services, Secretary Becerra advocated for supporting young people impacted by gun violence and was instrumental in shaping the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act — the first major gun safety legislation signed into law in nearly 30 years.