Mayorkas declines to endorse a candidate in California gubernatorial race

Former Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas declined Tuesday to endorse a candidate in California's gubernatorial election, stating there were "many qualified" candidates in the race, including a former colleague.

Former Biden administration Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra is one of the top contenders, along with billionaire Tom Steyer and Republican candidate Steve Hilton, according to The Hill. 

“I am agnostic with respect to the California gubernatorial race right now," Mayorkas told Politico at its Security Summit. “My residence is in Washington, D.C., you will not find me to answer your political questions in a satisfactory way." 

Becerra gained a foothold in the race after former Democratic California Rep. Eric Swalwell postponed his campaign because of sexual misconduct allegations. 

The decision not to endorse a candidate in the race comes after Becerra faced backlash from his opponents regarding his work in the Biden administration. But Mayorkas claimed he could not judge Becerra's handling of certain crises because he did not have the relevant information to make a fair judgment. 

“It’s very difficult for me to judge the competency or performance of another Cabinet secretary, because one has to be in that position, understand the opportunities for success, the challenges that one confronts,” Mayorkas said. “And I don’t think it’s fair for me to judge over the fence.”

The comments come as the state gears up for its primaries next month, which will see the top two vote-getters advance regardless of political affiliation.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.