TL;DR
- Three candidates have White House experience.
- They avoid mentioning Biden directly.
- Local issues take precedence in campaigns.
- Voter concerns focus on individual achievements.
- Candidates are balancing their past with current needs.
As the 2026 elections heat up, three former Biden administration officials are vying for governorships while playing a delicate game of political chess. With the specter of Joe Biden looming large, these candidates are trying to showcase their experience without getting too cozy with a president whose popularity has taken a nosedive.
Meet the trio: former Interior Secretary Deb Haaland from New Mexico, former Health Secretary Xavier Becerra from California, and Keisha Lance Bottoms, the former director of the White House Office of Public Engagement, hailing from Georgia. All three are attempting to leverage their time in the Biden administration as a badge of honor, but they’re doing so with a twist — they rarely mention the man himself.
Unlike their Republican counterparts who have embraced Donald Trump’s legacy with open arms, these Democratic hopefuls are tiptoeing around Biden’s name. With headlines swirling about Biden’s approval ratings and his recent struggles, it’s no wonder they’re keeping things vague. In fact, none of them have included Biden in their campaign ads, a stark contrast to the GOP’s unabashed loyalty to Trump.
Xavier Becerra, who’s in a heated primary in California, has touted his achievements from the Biden administration, like expanding Medicare and negotiating lower drug prices. Yet, he’s been careful to avoid direct references to Biden at campaign events. His spokesperson insists that voters are more interested in Becerra’s individual accomplishments than who he once worked for. “People in California are electing the next governor based on who they are, not necessarily who they worked for or who they’re tied to,” said campaign spokesperson Jonathan Underland.
Then there’s Deb Haaland, who’s riding high as a favorite in New Mexico’s Democratic primary. She’s spoken fondly of Biden, calling him a “true partner” for Indigenous people and praising his historic apology for past injustices. However, even she has refrained from mentioning him in her ads, opting instead to focus on her groundbreaking candidacy and environmental initiatives.
On the other hand, Keisha Lance Bottoms has been more vocal about her connection to Biden, even receiving his first post-presidential endorsement. She’s not shy about touting the administration’s accomplishments, like student loan forgiveness, but still keeps Biden’s name out of her ads. Her campaign is all about lowering costs and standing up against the chaos of Trump’s influence in Georgia.
Despite their impressive resumes, the candidates are acutely aware that their Biden connections might not be the golden ticket they hope for. Democratic strategists suggest that voters are more focused on how these candidates plan to tackle local issues than their past affiliations. “What people are looking for is someone to stand up and fight Trump,” said strategist Joshua Marcus-Blank. “It’s all about showing how I am fighting high gas prices, not about who I worked for in the past.”
As the primaries approach, it remains to be seen whether these candidates can navigate the tricky waters of their Biden ties while appealing to voters’ immediate concerns. Will their past experience help or hinder their chances in the upcoming elections? Only time will tell, but one thing is for certain: the political landscape is as unpredictable as ever.