As the California gubernatorial race draws to a close, Xavier Becerra is positioning himself as the candidate who can effectively challenge Big Oil, despite receiving financial contributions from the industry.
Becerra took to X on Friday to criticize his opponent, hedge-fund billionaire Tom Steyer, saying, “Tom Steyer made his billions off oil and coal. I made my career taking them to court … and winning.”
His post was accompanied by a vintage-style orange campaign graphic that boldly declared: “Only one candidate has sued Big Oil — and it isn’t Tom Steyer.”
However, critics were quick to highlight a contradiction: Becerra has been accepting donations from oil companies since the beginning of his campaign.
In fact, Becerra, who has served as a congressman, state attorney general, and a member of President Biden’s cabinet, received a maximum contribution of $39,200 from Chevron in June of last year. Furthermore, on the same day he criticized Steyer, Chevron donated $500,000 to a committee supporting Becerra.
“Chevron is charging Californians $6 a gallon with one hand and writing Xavier Becerra a $500,000 check with the other,” commented Danni Wang, a spokesperson for Steyer.
“As Attorney General, Becerra failed to go after Big Oil, and Chevron knows they’ll have a friend in Sacramento. Tom won’t be.”
It doesn’t hurt that Steyer doesn’t have to rely on oil companies’ money, because he has spent more than $190 million of his dough on his campaign.
Becerra was mostly an afterthought in the race until mid-April, when the career implosion of disgraced Congressman Eric Swalwell — who was accused of rape and sexual assault by multiple women — catapulted Becerra into relevancy.
Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton torched Becerra’s rhetoric in an interview with The California Post on Saturday.
“Becerra has pulled off the incredible feat of showing Californians that he’s not only a complete hypocrite, but also the guy who wants to continue punishing working-class Californians with the highest gas prices in the country,” Hilton said.
“That’s what the Democrats mean when they talk about taking on big oil — higher gas prices for Californians. Good luck with that on the campaign trail.”
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California drivers recently paid an average of roughly $6.14 per gallon during the Memorial Day travel period — about $1.58 higher than the national average, according to the American Automobile Association.
State officials estimate California taxes and fees alone account for roughly 70 cents per gallon, the highest gas taxes in the country.
Gov. Gavin Newsom has spent years escalating the war against Chevron and other oil companies while simultaneously championing climate regulations critics say have helped drive up fuel costs.
Over Memorial Day weekend, Newsom’s office publicly urged Californians not to buy gas at Chevron stations, accusing the company of overcharging drivers by 60 to 80 cents per gallon compared to unbranded competitors.
Chevron has been posting signs at Golden State gas stations blaming Sacramento politicians and environmental mandates for high prices at the pump.
“California politicians are choosing foreign oil and fuels over local jobs and lower costs,” the signs read.
As attorney general, Becerra joined multiple climate lawsuits against fossil fuel companies and routinely aligned himself with environmental activists eager to punish the industry.
Critics increasingly argue California Democrats have spent years demonizing oil companies while residents get hammered by soaring fuel prices, taxes and energy costs.
In a recent interview, Becerra himself sounded like a different person than his tough talk on social media.
During a League of California Cities forum last month, Becerra said: “Chevron — that’s the problem with politics — they’re not the bad guy.”
He added: “Does everybody here drive an electric vehicle? You need Chevron, I need Chevron, the people of the state of California need Chevron.”
