SACRAMENTO — In their first official action since Donald Trump became president, California lawmakers on Monday confirmed a new attorney general who has vowed to defend the state's liberal policies against the Trump administration and a Republican Congress.
Xavier Becerra easily cleared the final hurdle to become the state's top law enforcement official, with a 26-9 vote along party lines in the Democratic-controlled state Senate. Becerra, who represented the Los Angeles area in the U.S. House for more than two decades, became the state's first Latino attorney general.
He replaces Kamala Harris, who was elected to the U.S. Senate in November. Democrats said Becerra will fight to defend California's protections for the gay and lesbian community, women and immigrants.
"He will be a very strong partner for our state to work with the federal government when we can and to resist when we must," said Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de Leon, a Los Angeles Democrat.
Some Republicans said they voted against him because of his promise to challenge federal policies. Republican Sen. John Moorlach of Costa Mesa says he's worried Becerra will jeopardize federal funding for California by antagonizing the Trump administration.