Xavier Becerra | |
---|---|
![]() | |
25th United States Secretary of Health and Human Services | |
Assumed office March 19, 2021 | |
President | Joe Biden |
Deputy | Andrea Palm |
Preceded by | Alex Azar |
33rd Attorney General of California | |
In office January 24, 2017 – March 18, 2021 | |
Governor | Jerry Brown Gavin Newsom |
Preceded by | Kamala Harris |
Succeeded by | Rob Bonta |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California | |
In office January 3, 1993 – January 24, 2017 | |
Preceded by | Edward Roybal (Redistricting) |
Succeeded by | Jimmy Gomez |
Constituency | 30th district (1993–2003) 31st district (2003–2013) 34th district (2013–2017) |
Chair of the House Democratic Caucus | |
In office January 3, 2013 – January 3, 2017 | |
Leader | Nancy Pelosi |
Preceded by | John Larson |
Succeeded by | Joe Crowley |
Vice Chair of the House Democratic Caucus | |
In office January 3, 2009 – January 3, 2013 | |
Leader | Nancy Pelosi |
Preceded by | John Larson |
Succeeded by | Joe Crowley |
House Democratic Assistant to the Leader | |
In office January 3, 2007 – January 3, 2009 | |
Leader | Nancy Pelosi |
Preceded by | John Spratt |
Succeeded by | Chris Van Hollen |
Member of the California State Assembly from the 59th district | |
In office 1990–1992 | |
Preceded by | Charles Calderon |
Succeeded by | Dick Mountjoy |
Personal details | |
Born | Sacramento, California, U.S. | January 26, 1958
Political party | Democratic |
Spouse(s) | Carolina Reyes |
Children | 3 |
Education | Stanford University (BA, JD) |
Website | Government website |
Xavier Becerra (/hɑːviˈɛər bɪˈsɛrə/ hah-vee-AIR; born January 26, 1958) is an American politician. Becerra is the 25th and current United States Secretary of Health and Human Services since 2021 during the Joe Biden administration. He was the Attorney General of California from 2017 until 2021.
He previously served in the United States House of Representatives for California's 34th congressional district. He had represented Downtown Los Angeles in Congress from 1993 to 2017. Becerra, a member of the Democratic Party, was Chairman of the House Democratic Caucus.
He was chosen to become Attorney General of California after Kamala Harris was elected to the United States Senate. He is the first Latino to serve as Attorney General of California.
On December 6, 2020 then President-elect Joe Biden nominated Becerra to be the United States Secretary of Health and Human Services.[1] His nomination was confirmed by the United States Senate on March 18, 2021 with a narrow 50-49 vote.[2]