Gavin Newsom’s governor candidate defends big oil

Xavier Becerra has broken ranks with the other Democratic California gubernatorial candidates, with his staunch defense of big oil.

Joe Biden’s former Health and Human Services secretary said “they’re not the bad guy” when grilled over accepting donations from gas giant Chevron.

Becerra has surged in the polls since Eric Swalwell’s downfall due to rape allegations, which he denied, and is rumored to be Gov. Gavin Newsom’s team’s preferred pick.

He said during the League of California Cities forum last week: “Chevron — that’s the problem with politics — they’re not the bad guy.”

He continued: “Does everybody here drive an electric vehicle? You need Chevron, I need Chevron, the people of the state of California need Chevron.”

Becerra is reported to have accepted a $39,200 donation from the oil giant for his surging gubernatorial campaign.

He is surging in the polls after trailing at the lower end at the start of the race and is now tied for first with Trump-endorsed Republican Steve Hilton on 19% favorability, according to EMC Research’s polling.

His campaign also defended his stance on oil, with spokesman Jonathan Underland telling POLITICO: “Xavier Becerra has never been bought by a check and his record proves it.

“At every opportunity, he has taken action to hold companies accountable and has been very vocal about the impact that fossil fuel companies have had on the climate, the air we breathe, and the water we drink.”

Gas prices in the state of California have crossed $6, while the national average sits at $4.30, according to the AAA.

Oil is a contentious issue in the state, where the majority of its supply is imported from foreign markets, with in-state production dwindling over the years and as more refineries have shut down.

Under the spotlight is Sable Oil Refiners — from whom Chevron is purchasing thousands of barrels of oil — which began producing oil in-state through the Santa Ynez Unit in Santa Barbara after a Trump executive order allowed them to reopen after over a decade of being closed following an oil spill.

Californians, led by Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta, sued the federal government, and a judge ruled Sable was not in compliance with state orders.

The company is now suing Santa Barbara County for $100 million. Other governor candidates are attacking each other over who is better on oil and the environment — especially the Democratics.

Tom Steyer and Katie Porter — other Democratic frontrunners — have signed formal pledges not to accept fossil fuel contributions.

Matt Mahan’s campaign has said it is not accepting contributions from larger companies, while Antonio Villaraigosa, at the bottom of the pack, has.

Becerra’s opponents claim he is shifting strategy since his time as attorney general of California during Newsom’s first term.

In that time, he launched the Environmental Justice Bureau within the DOJ. Now he has changed, according to Janet Cox, CEO of Climate Action California, a group of climate activists whose 6,500 members voted to endorse Steyer.

“We never got a response from Becerra, and clearly he wasn’t moving on it, because he didn’t,” Cox said.

“Think about the damage that Chevron’s business plan has wreaked on California. It’s an outrageous statement to say that we need Chevron; that’s like saying we need dope pushers.”

The California Post has reached out to Chevron for further comment.

Newsom has yet to make an official endorsement, though early signals suggest he may be favoring dark horse Becerra.

The jungle primary — where the top two candidates, regardless of party, advance to a November general election — will be held in June.

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