Xavier Becerra to be Attorney General — But Bar Membership ‘Inactive’

Gov. Jerry Brown has nominated Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-CA) to take Kamala Harris’s place as Attorney General of the State of California.

Harris was elected to the U.S. Senate on Nov. 8.

(Update: Becerra’s membership in the State Bar of California is inactive, as a search of public records confirms. The State Bar suggests that he is eligible to become active again. Bar membership typically becomes inactive at the request of an attorney who no longer intends to practice law in the state, but it can also expire for failure to pay dues or to comply with continuing legal education requirements. Breitbart News has contacted the State Bar of California and is awaiting further comment.)

Becerra accepted the nomination in a statement Thursday:

“My job everyday as a Member of Congress is to fight for working families like the one I grew up in. As the son of immigrants, I have never let this purpose escape my work, and I’ve served to this end relentlessly.

“Over the past 24 years as a representative of California’s 34th congressional district, I have been part of some of the greatest debates confronting our nation, from opposing the Iraq war, to fighting to help Americans recover from the Great Recession, to launching the bipartisan immigration talks and helping write our nation’s health security law.

“This past year, I traveled to 15 states and more than 20 battleground districts to help fellow congressional colleagues and new Members who believe in this good fight. But California right now is ahead of the country when it comes to clean energy, commonsense treatment of immigrants, real health security and so much more.

“Governor Brown has presented me with an opportunity I cannot refuse — to serve as Attorney General of my home state. As a former deputy attorney general, I relished the chance to be our state’s chief law enforcement officer to protect consumers, advance criminal justice reform and, of course, keep our families safe.

“I have accepted Governor Brown’s nomination. I never thought as a child that I’d have the privilege to even walk through the halls of Congress, let alone travel to Washington.

“I’m eternally grateful to my family and constituents and my colleagues, from Leader Nancy Pelosi to our newest Members, whose support continues to energize me everyday.”

Upon taking office, if and when he is confirmed by the state legislature, Becerra will be the only major statewide office-holder from Southern California. He will also be the first Latino to hold the post.

NBC News notes that Becerra will have to step down from his congressional seat, where he was “the highest ranking Hispanic in Congress and was considered as a potential running mate to Hillary Clinton.” He is also the outgoing chair of the House Democratic Caucus.

NBC adds:

Becerra, joined Congress in 1993 when Bill Clinton was entering the Oval Office. The son of Mexican immigrants, he is a former California state legislator and served as its deputy attorney general. In Congress, he served on the House Ways and Means Committee and expressed interest in being elected its ranking member. He was the first Latino to serve on the powerful committee.

Joel B. Pollak is Senior Editor-at-Large at Breitbart News. His new book, See No Evil: 19 Hard Truths the Left Can’t Handle, is available from Regnery through Amazon. Follow him on Twitter at @joelpollak.