A Democratic frontrunner in California’s gubernatorial race has been running on his experience working for former President Joe Biden — but one administration official issued a shocking judgment instead.

Xavier Becerra, Biden’s head of the Department of Health and Human Services, has surged to the top of polls a month away from the June 2 primary, making him the primary target of multiple candidates during CNN’s Tuesday night debate.

However, the most damning attack came after the debate during a panel held by CNN.

Xochitl Hinojosa, who worked in Biden’s Department of Justice, shocked the panel when she said Becerra doesn’t have what it takes.

“After working in Joe Biden’s administration, I do not trust Xavier Becerra to do that,” she said. “I don’t think he’ll be able to stand up to Trump and lead.”

Hinojosa said California needed a strong leader to fight President Donald Trump, who Democrats say has made the blue state one of his favorite targets.

“When I saw him in the administration, I think a lot of people did, people understand this: he was not effective in government,” she added in an even more excruciating follow-up answer on Becerra.

Hinojosa said people from the Biden administration are chattering about Becerra’s alleged ineffectiveness, which caused another panelist to react with wide-open eyes.

“They’ve realized that he was not an effective HHS secretary, and if you ask any cabinet secretary, they will tell you the same thing,” she said.

When the other panelists pressed her if Biden and former Vice President Kamala Harris also felt that way, Hinojosa said she didn’t speak to them about it.

The Becerra campaign, when asked to comment, pointed to a post by another Biden official, Neera Tanden, that shot back at Hinojosa.

Hey @XochitlHinojosa – as Chair of WH Domestic Policy Council I worked directly with Becerra, often daily, and this is bs. He delivered on Medicare Drug negotiation, $35 insulin and got health care coverage for 14 million more people. We appreciated that he got big things done.… https://t.co/GMfyxw9edX

— Neera Tanden🌻 (@neeratanden) May 6, 2026

“As Chair of WH Domestic Policy Council I worked directly with Becerra, often daily, and this is bs,” Tanden said. “We appreciated that he got big things done. And the least favorite cabinet secretary? Well that might have been closer to your old neck of the woods.”

The CNN panel comments only add ammunition for Becerra’s opponents, who already have long critiqued his record as HHS chief, such as his presence during the COVID-19 pandemic or his handling of migrant children. Becerra has dismissed such attacks and insisted his record shows top-notch leadership.

Becerra, who has seen allies of Gov. Gavin Newsom coalesce around him, has not been shy about his working relationship under Joe Biden.

That has drawn questions from strategists whether that’s the right move given Biden’s complicated legacy.

“I’m not sure the Joe Biden-adjacent brand is a good brand right now,” one panelist said.