Xavier Becerra’s arrival as California’s governor marks a historic moment for the Latino community, particularly for thousands of Mexican families who have built their lives in the United States without losing touch with their roots.
 

The Democrat defeated Republican Steve Hilton in the November 3 election, becoming the first Latino ever elected directly by voters to lead California and representing the growing influence of Mexican American generations in U.S. politics.
 

But behind his political career is a family story that connects directly to Mexico and, in particular, to Tijuana.
 

A family story rooted between Mexico and California.
 

Xavier Becerra was born on January 26, 1958, in Sacramento, California. He is the son of María Teresa and Manuel Becerra, a Mexican American couple who faced financial hardships and worked for years to provide for their four children.
 

His mother, María Teresa, is originally from Guadalajara, Jalisco, and came to the United States after starting a family with Manuel.
 

His father has a particularly close connection to the border region. Although he was born in Sacramento in 1928, Manuel Becerra grew up in Tijuana, where his family settled during the Great Depression.
 

His father's family had roots in Jalisco and moved to Baja California in search of better opportunities. From an early age, Manuel had to work to help support his household. According to accounts Xavier has shared about his father, Manuel left school after the sixth grade and began working as a child.
 

Among his first jobs was shining shoes. He also worked in agriculture and helped his father with various jobs. His life unfolded on both sides of the border, an experience that deeply shaped the family's history.
 

From Tijuana to California: The sacrifices of his parents
 

In the early 1950s, Manuel and María Teresa decided to pursue better opportunities. The couple arrived in Tijuana before eventually moving to California, where they began a new chapter of their lives with very limited financial resources.
 

Becerra has shared that his parents arrived in California with just $12 in their pockets.
 

After settling in Sacramento, Manuel worked in agricultural fields and later spent approximately 30 years in the construction industry. His work included road construction and public infrastructure projects.
 

Meanwhile, María Teresa worked as an administrative employee and made an effort to learn English while helping support the family.
 

Both parents had limited formal education, but they shared one conviction: their children should have opportunities they never had.
 

Xavier grew up with his three sisters in a modest home in Sacramento, where their parents instilled in them the values of hard work, education and perseverance.
 

Those family sacrifices were reflected in his academic achievements. Becerra went on to attend Stanford University, where he studied economics before earning his law degree. He became the first member of his family to graduate from a four-year university.
 

A story of hope for the Latino community.

Becerra's victory carries a meaning that goes beyond an election result. His story reflects the journey of countless Mexican families who have crossed borders, worked for generations and pursued better opportunities for their children.
 

For many Mexicans living in the United States, particularly those who maintain family, cultural and economic ties to Mexico, his rise to California's highest office represents an opportunity to see themselves reflected in one of the most influential political positions in the country.
 

His family's connection to Tijuana also carries special significance for the border region, where thousands of people cross between Mexico and the United States every day in search of work, education and opportunity.
 

Although Becerra was born in the United States, his parents' story is deeply connected to Mexico: a mother originally from Jalisco and a father who grew up in Tijuana before establishing his life in California.
 

Now, that family history becomes part of a new political chapter for the most populous state in the United States, where millions of Latinos play an essential role in its identity, economy and development.
 

For many families, Xavier Becerra's rise represents a message of hope: Mexican roots are not a barrier to reaching the highest levels of leadership and political representation.