Xavier Becerra: Everything You Need to Know

ByABC News
July 28, 2016, 4:18 PM

— -- Name: Xavier Becerra

Party: Democrat

Date of Birth: Jan. 26, 1958

Age: 58

Hometown: Los Angeles, California

What He Does Now: Serves in Congress representing parts of Los Angeles. He’s also the chairman of the House Democratic Caucus and a member of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and the House Ways and Means Committee.

What He Used to Do: Becerra was first elected to Congress in 1992. Before that, he served in the California State Assembly and served as deputy attorney general for the state of California. He graduated from Stanford University in 1980 and Stanford Law School in 1984.

Family Tree:

Becerra was born in Sacramento to working-class Mexican immigrants. His mother was born in Jalisco, Mexico, and moved to America after marrying his father. His wife, Carolina Reyes, is a graduate of Harvard Medical School. They have three daughters -- Clarisa, Olivia and Natalia.

Key Life/Career Moments:

  • Becerra was first elected to Congress in 1992. Before that, he served in the California State Assembly and served as deputy attorney general for the state of California. He graduated from Stanford University in 1980 and Stanford Law School in 1984. He was the first in his family to graduate from college.
  • He was considered for the job of U.S. trade representative by President Obama in his first term, but turned down the position. He also considered running for the U.S. Senate in California. In 2001, Becerra unsuccessfully ran for mayor of Los Angeles.
  • What You Might Not Know About Him:

  • Becerra was a key player in comprehensive immigration reform efforts in Congress in 2013. He’s well respected on both sides of the aisle after more than 20 years in Congress.
  • What He Has Said About Trump:

  • "I certainly believe ... that he’s a bigoted man. I certainly believe that if he’s unwilling to say he apologizes for the racist things that he’s said, that he should be classified as a racist.” (MSNBC - 6/22/16)
  • s