Exclusive | Xavier Becerra’s palace intrigue: Dem insiders scramble for jobs before election’s even over

Xavier Becerra hasn’t won the California governor’s race yet — but Sacramento political insiders are already scrambling for seats in his expected administration.

Acolytes of Gov. Gavin Newsom, labor heavyweights and longtime Becerra loyalists are circling the secretive Democrat’s prospective administration, with competing camps jockeying for jobs and influence before voters deliver their verdict in November, sources tell The California Post.

For veterans of Newsom’s political operation, the transition offers a chance to maintain their foothold in state government after their boss leaves Sacramento for a likely presidential campaign in 2028. For Becerra’s longtime allies — a group that has been whittled by a federal corruption scandal — the question of who gets a seat at the table is just as pressing.

“This is a hot mess,” one Democratic political operative with knowledge of the situation told The California Post.

“We’re all trying to find where the center of gravity is in Xavierland.”

Among the prominent figures bridging the two worlds is Nicole Elliott, Newsom’s former cannabis regulator, who is leading Becerra’s transition planning, according to sources. Lindsey Cobia, a veteran of Newsom’s political operation, and labor strategist Courtni Pugh are also names to watch that were mentioned by multiple insiders tracking discussions, as both have key roles in Becerra’s political operations.

Few voices may hold more sway on top appointments than longtime Becerra aide Liz Saldivar, who held the role of district director when he was a congressman and later became his external affairs director while Becerra was California attorney general.

Saldivar also has a close relationship with Becerra’s wife, Dr. Carolina Reyes, and serves as a sounding board, sources said. Her potential influence could extend beyond a formal title.

Deputy campaign manager Cynthia Palafox and political director Robbie Abelon also have been longtime members of Becerra’s inner circle, while Rosalina Cardenas, a former Univision exec who directs paid media for the Becerra campaign, is said to be a consigliere. Kyle Layman, a general consultant for the campaign, also was noted as a possible contender for a role inside the governor’s office.

Becerra, who was an afterthought in the governor’s race until ex-congressman Eric Swalwell’s campaign imploded over sex assault allegations, is said to prize loyalty — and he has reasons to be wary of people seeking his favor.

His former longtime chief of staff, Sean McCluskie, and former campaign adviser Dana Williamson, who also served as Newsom’s chief of staff, pleaded guilty in a corruption scheme that siphoned approximately $225,000 from a dormant Becerra campaign account.

Prosecutors said the money was routed through businesses and disguised as compensation for McCluskie’s wife for a no-show job. Prosecutors said Becerra was deceived about the payments, which McCluskie represented as legitimate expenses.

With two formerly trusted advisers disgraced, some Sacramento insiders worry that Becerra may lean heavily on Newsom’s team to fill the most coveted positions, including chief of staff, legislative affairs secretary, Cabinet secretary and appointments secretary.

“There is this fear of a Newsom 3.0,” a source said, suggesting the outgoing governor’s imprint could extend to a third term. Polling shows 62% of Californians want the next governor to take the state in a new direction.

Karen Skelton, a longtime Democratic strategist for presidents and California governors who also attended high school with Becerra, has been discussed as a potential chief of staff by insiders, but accounts differ over whether she would be interested in joining the administration.

Adding some brownie points, Skelton told the Sacramento Bee she had “crush” on Becerra in high school.

Nick Hardeman, a longtime chief of staff to former Senate leader Toni Atkins who also chaired California’s Fast Food Council, is another name surfacing in conversations about Becerra’s team.

Labor figures are also featuring prominently in the speculation.

Joe Cruz, head of the California State Council of Laborers, is among the names circulating for a possible administration role, according to people familiar with the discussions. Pugh, who is working on political committees to defeat Proposition 39, the voter ID ballot measure, and Prop. 40, the billionaire tax, is viewed by some insiders as a potential senior adviser.

Keeley Bosler, a former finance director under Newsom who is overseeing the creation of a nonprofit to fund the next governor’s travel, is also being floated as a potential director of protocol, according to an insider.

Becerra’s daughter, Clarisa Reyes-Becerra, an immigration attorney who has been paid more than $17,000 by his campaign, is also rumored to be in the mix for an administration job, according to an insider.

Jonathan Underland, a Becerra campaign spokesperson whose name also surfaced as a potential administration hire, said the campaign remains focused on winning the election.

“We’re focused right on running through the tape Nov. 3 and winning this election,” Underland told The Post.

But Sacramento insiders are looking well beyond Election Day for new jobs, salaries and influence.

“Everyone knows there is a new world order coming,” a source said. “Everyone is trying to figure out how they’re going to make money for the next four to eight years.”

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