Xavier Becerra's Election Marks Fifth Consecutive Catholic Governor

California’s Catholic Streak

The election of Xavier Becerra as California’s next governor marks a striking milestone for the state: the fifth consecutive Catholic to hold the office.

This political trend, noted by the Durango Herald, underscores a complex relationship between the nation’s most populous state and a faith that has been woven into its history for centuries.

For observers of California politics, the streak is more than a statistical curiosity. It highlights a unique cultural geography where religious identity, progressive policy, and deep-seated historical legacies frequently collide.

WATCH LIVE: Xavier Becerra wins election for California governor

A Diverse Political Fabric

Catholicism in California does not align with a single political ideology. While the state boasts the largest Catholic population in the U.S.—with 25% of adults identifying as such, according to a 2024 Pew Research Center poll—these voters are anything but a monolith. As David Gibson, director of Fordham University’s Center on Religion and Culture, pointed out, “There is no Catholic vote.”

This political fluidity was on display during the recent gubernatorial race. According to The AP Voter Poll, about 6 in 10 Catholic voters supported Becerra, while roughly 4 in 10 favored his Republican challenger, Steve Hilton. Latino Catholics proved to be a critical base for the governor-elect, with 7 in 10 supporting his campaign.

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The tension between doctrine and governance remains a constant theme. Becerra himself, a former U.S. health and human services secretary, has worked in this field by articulating how his upbringing informs his values while simultaneously supporting abortion rights. He reflects a trend where Catholic social teaching—such as opposition to the death penalty—often finds common ground with California’s progressive policy agenda.

The Legacy of the Missions

Beyond the ballot box, the Catholic influence is etched into the very landscape of California. From the Spanish Colonial Revival architecture that defines many neighborhoods to the 21 missions established between 1769 and 1823, the church remains a physical and cultural fixture.

Democrat Xavier Becerra wins the race for California governor, succeeding term-limited Gov. Gavin Newsom. https://t.co/szC4uBdNpC pic.twitter.com/MC1dR0fw6d

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However, this heritage is increasingly viewed through a more critical lens. Historian William Deverell of the University of Southern California notes that the mission system triggered a devastating demographic decline for Indigenous populations due to the introduction of disease. In response to these fraught histories, state law now mandates that public school social studies curricula include perspectives on the mistreatment of Native Americans.

Cecilia González-Andrieu, a theology professor at Loyola Marymount University, emphasizes that for many, these contradictions are part of a personal struggle. “For Latina theologians like myself, there’s a need for us to be able to hold that in tension, the fact that within our very selves we have this mix of cultures and bloods,” she explained.

Xavier becerra arrives at a screening of los lobos native sons on friday april at the egyptian theatre in los angeles by rich

Church Hierarchy Interacts with State Policy

The interplay between the church hierarchy and state policy remains unpredictable. While some bishops have actively subverted federal immigration policies by creating safe havens on parish property, others have engaged in high-profile confrontations with political leaders over moral stances. In 2022, San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone barred U.S. Rep. Nancy Pelosi from receiving Communion, citing her support for abortion rights.

Conversely, Governor Gavin Newsom’s recent move to commute over 500 death sentences to life in prison without parole drew praise from the California Catholic Conference. Newsom explicitly framed the decision as a moral imperative, stating that “state-sanctioned killing is incompatible with California’s values.”

Elecciones en California: Xavier Becerra encabeza contienda a gobernador

For many Californians, faith remains a private, daily practice even when the institutional church feels distant. Brian Murillo, a state employee in Fresno, describes himself as a lapsed Catholic who has grown disillusioned with the church’s alignment with Republican politics. Yet, he still incorporates traditional prayers into his daily routine. “It’s been such a part of my growing up, even to this day,” he said.

As Becerra prepares to take office, he inherits a state where the influence of the church is neither fully secularized nor entirely dogmatic. It is a persistent, evolving, and deeply contested part of the California identity, one that continues to shape the state’s political and social life in ways that defy simple categorization.