Xavier Becerra supercharges governor campaign with ‘Swiss Army knife’ Gavin Newsom aide

The gubernatorial candidate who has bolstered in the polls after the Eric Swalwell scandal is stacking his campaign with Gavin Newsom allies and heavy hitters.

Just 35 days out from California’s jungle primary race in June, Xavier Becerra is beefing up his staff as he seeks to advance to the November election and take on Trump-endorsed Steve Hilton and Democratic billionaire Tom Steyer, Politico’s California Playbook reported.

The former Health and Human Services secretary under the Biden administration has reportedly hired Lindsey Cobia and Courtni Pugh, two political consultants who have worked with the current governor since 2015 and 2021, to serve as senior political advisers.

Cobia, a longtime Democratic political operative in California, served as deputy chief of staff to Newsom from 2019 to 2023 and is described as his “Swiss Army knife” for handling strategy, scheduling and decisions.

Meanwhile, Pugh, who has been relatively new to Newsom’s team, has worked with top ballot candidates like former Vice President Kamala Harris and local candidates like Mayor Karen Bass.

The two firms that helped power Newsom’s social media and digital fundraising efforts — Lamont Digital and Aisle 518 — have also joined the Becerra camp.

Others among Becerra’s hires, Playbook reported, include Jonathan Underland as senior communications director and Danny Fierro as organizing director. Vanessa Carr, Nicole Serrano and Jacob Jauregui have also joined the Democrat’s team.

Swalwell was the leading Democratic contender until he exited the race amid multiple allegations of sexual assault and rape, as well as a Department of Justice investigation.

He has denied the accusations. Allegations from four former staffers surfaced, effectively ending his campaign and political ambitions and ultimately leading to his resignation from Congress.

A new survey conducted between April 14 and April 18 among 800 likely primary voters shows Becerra jumping to 15% support — an 11-point surge from just 4% earlier this month.

The new staff additions join longtime core staff who have been with him since the campaign’s early days, including general consultant Kyle Layman, communications adviser Michael Bustamante, campaign manager Emma Harris, press secretary Sara Lee and digital director Harrison Morgan.

Senior political adviser Liz Saldivar previously worked with him in Congress and at the state attorney general’s office, while deputy campaign manager Cynthia Palafox and political director Robbie Abelon have also been part of his circle since his earlier public service roles.

The Democrats seem to be split among Becerra and Steyer, with the former US representative losing a key endorsement from affluent San Francisco activist Susie Tompkins Buell.

“I have been in and around politics long enough to know that power and money reveal character,” Buell, the megadonor, told Playbook. “That is why I am with Tom Steyer.”

Newsom has not yet endorsed a candidate and has maintained his distance from the race, which will determine his successor.

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