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Anthony Cabassa@anthonycabassa · Oct 4, 2026

REPORT 🚨: During CNN's Gubernatorial debate, Xavier Becerra stated that his parents "came to this country with $12".…

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Summary

Xavier Becerra has repeatedly claimed during his California gubernatorial campaign that his parents arrived in the country with only $12, but an obituary of his father reveals he was born in California and returned as a teenager after his family had moved to Mexico, working for years before marrying and buying a home—contradicting the narrative. The "$12" story appears to have been pre-planned for his campaign launch and was never fact-checked despite publicly available contradictory information.

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  1. #1

    REPORT 🚨: During CNN's Gubernatorial debate, Xavier Becerra stated that his parents "came to this country with $12". This is a line he has repeatedly used during his campaign for Governor. The only problem? His dad was born IN California, and the timeline is not adding up.🧵

  2. #2

    In a separate interview, Becerra again said that his parents "came" to this country with only $12 in their pocket, the insinuation being that his parents were both immigrants from Mexico. An important take away here, is him stating his dad came (to CA) in his 20's. ⛳️

  3. #3

    This story has tugged at the hearts of many immigrant voters who say Becerra resonates with their story. However, according to an obituary article by the Sacramento Bee, the father of Xavier, Manuel Guerrero Becerra, was born IN California. "the eldest of eight".

  4. #4

    In this same obituary, it states his fathers family moved to Mexico, but that his father would return to the U.S. but not as an immigrant, not with $12 in his pocket, and not in his 20's, but as a "young teenager", and instead of returning to school, he would work instead.

  5. #5

    It also states his father did in fact marry in his 20's to his wife he would meet in Jalisco MX, and he brought her back with him to CA, but this after "several years" of already being a railroad worker. The obituary also states they would purchase a home "soon after" marriage.

  6. #6

    In researching the history of this "just $12" campaign line, the earliest recorded use of it is the day he announced his candidacy for Governor of California, with a press release using that exact phrase, on April 2, 2025 on Contra Costa News. No earlier records exist.

  7. #7

    The fact that this line was in his campaign launch, meant that this was a story that was pre-planned, and repeated often, to tug at the story of millions of immigrant voters in CA, many of them from Mexico. But outside of him saying it, there is no evidence of it being true.

  8. #8

    And again, it is important to note, this father's own obituary denies, or at least does not substantiate Xavier's claims of them arriving with only $12 in their pocket, as his father, a US Citizen, had been working for years before marrying, and purchasing a home shortly after.

  9. #9

    With this information being publicly available, how was a campaign story launched on the day of his campaign not been fact-checked? I reached out to @XavierBecerra campaign press relations team, and they declined to comment on this story after asking what outlet I was with.

  10. #10

    @XavierBecerra For anyone searching for the story, it even prompts that this "$12" campaign slogan has been a "central narrative in his gubernatorial campaign to highlight the 'California Dream' and his working-class roots" to connect with voters."

  11. #11

    Steve Hilton has officially responded to this report:

    Steve Hilton@SteveHiltonx · Oct 4, 2026

    Unlike Xavier Becerra, I am an immigrant. Unlike Xavier Becerra, my father was an immigrant. My stepfather too. My whole family. Unlike Becerra (because I've been out there listening to the people), I know Becerra's policies have destroyed the California Dream. My plans will restore it. - More money in your pocket: Your first $150k tax free, $3.00 gas, $73 registration for your car or truck. - A home you can afford to buy: Cut government fees and regulations on new homes by $150k. - Relief for small business owners: Scrap $800 small business tax, stop FUTA taxes, end unfair competition from street vendors, end PAGA lawsuits. Xavier Becerra offers NOTHING. Because he is a smug, arrogant, machine politician mediocrity who is taking you for granted. Send him a message: ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. We are voting for CHANGE this year. ✊☀️