Becerra Dogged By Indictment Of Former Staffer As Frontrunner In CA Governor's Race

SACRAMENTO, CA — California gubernatorial candidate Xavier Becerra is facing new challenges following the report of a complaint alleging he broke campaign finance laws, and a gaffe that caught national attention as the Democrat continues to surge in the latest polls.

According to an anonymous complaint submitted on Monday to the Fair Political Practices Commission, Becerra was accused of illegally using a dormant campaign account to pay his former campaign manager, The Sacramento Bee reported.

The allegations are related to a federal indictment filed late last year in which Becerra is described as the victim of a crime by former staffers.

Becerra campaign spokesperson Jonathan Underland told The Sacramento Bee, the FBI had found “no wrongdoing” by Becerra. “Any attacks from political opponents will get the same level of scrutiny and will lead to the same conclusion: Xavier Becerra did nothing wrong.”

About 18 months after Becerra resigned as state attorney general to work for the Biden administration, a dormant account for his campaign paid Dana Williamson's firm, Grace Public Affairs, $74,228.34 from January 2021 to December 2022, the complaint alleges.

RELATED: Becerra Gains Support, Ties Hilton For Lead In CA Governor's Race, Latest Poll Shows

In California, the Political Reform Act was passed as a ballot measure in 1974 following the Watergate scandal. It regulates how campaign finances can be spent. Once a candidate leaves office, surplus campaign funds can only be used to pay campaign debts or donated to charities or political parties.

Becerra has previously said he paid Williamson and Alexis Podesta, a lobbyist, to keep his account in compliance with finance laws.

Becerra's campaign did not respond to Patch's requests for comment by press time.

The complaint has come to light amid a contentious and historic gubernatorial election to replace outgoing Gov. Gavin Newsom, whose term expires in January.

Former U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell and former state Controller Betty Yee, both dropped out of the governor's race after the filing deadline; both of their names will appear on the ballot. However, nine gubernatorial candidates still remain in the race with the primary election weeks away on June 2.

California's 2026 gubernatorial race has seen multiple shifts in the polls after Swalwell — who was once the leading candidate among Democrats — dropped out of the race last month amid calls to exit and resign from Congress after he was accused of sexual assault. Swalwell has denied the allegations.

The allegations Becerra is facing are one of the latest issues dogging the Democrat's campaign. On Tuesday, Becerra was caught on video engaging in an awkward exchange with a KTLA reporter before an interview was supposed to start. Becerra could be heard asking "this is not a gotcha piece, right?"

RELATED: Potential For Further Scandal Looms As CA Governor's Race Is Reshuffled By Swalwell's Exit

The race became heated last week during a televised debate among the leading candidates, with the contenders attacking each other throughout the event. Becerra was peppered with questions about the federal indictment of his chief of staff and others, including a former top Newsom aide, alleging they stole campaign money from him. The indictment alleges the scheme was designed to pad the salary of Becerra’s chief of staff when Becerra was serving as the federal health secretary. Several people involved have pleaded guilty.

Becerra has not been implicated or indicted, but Democratic candidate Antonio Villaraigosa and Republican candidate Steve Hilton used the incident to question his judgment and suggest he may have been involved. Hilton said that, if elected, he would even push the state attorney general to investigate Becerra.

“If I had been involved, the U.S. attorney would have had me in that indictment. I was not involved,” Becerra said.

Becerra has consistently risen in high-quality election polls, rising from 5 percent in February, per the Public Policy Institute of California.

RELATED: Panicked California Democrats Are Pushing A Risky Strategy: Wait 'Til The Last Minute To Vote

A new poll published Sunday by research firm Kreate Strategies showed Hilton leading among all candidates with 22 percent of support among likely voters. Becerra trailed him with 20 percent. Billionaire and environmentalist Tom Steyer, a Democrat who also saw a rise in support after Swalwell's departure, received 14 percent. Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco followed with 13 percent, and Democrats San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan and former U.S. Rep. Katie Porter each received 9 percent of support.

Though Becerra has denied any wrongdoing, political experts say the highlight Becerra's potential "baggage" before the election in November.

Christian Grose, a political expert and director of USC's Democracy and Fair Elections Lab, said the scandal hangs over Becerra's candidacy.

"This corruption scandal could get bigger if new information becomes public from a plea agreement," Grose said. That is the Achilles heel if that scandal gets bigger, but it is an unknown if or how that might develop."

He attributed Becerra's ascension in the latest polls to Swalwell's campaign collapsing after sexual assault allegations surfaced.

"Becerra has gone from an also-ran to a frontrunner thanks almost entirely to the Swalwell implosion and voters tuning in late."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.