California gubernatorial hopeful Villaraigosa accuses Kamala Harris and Xavier Becerra of covering up Biden’s mental decline, sparking election controversy.

Villaraigosa Calls for Accountability

Former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, now a Democratic candidate for governor of California, has alleged that Vice President Kamala Harris and former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra were complicit in a deliberate cover-up of President Joe Biden’s cognitive decline while in office. The explosive claim adds a dramatic twist to California’s 2026 gubernatorial race.

“What I’ve seen in news coverage and excerpts from the new book ‘Original Sin’ is deeply troubling,” Villaraigosa said in a formal statement. “At the highest levels of our government, those in power were intentionally complicit or told outright lies in a systematic cover-up to keep Joe Biden’s mental decline from the public.”

Villaraigosa’s remarks directly target Harris and Becerra, both of whom previously served as California’s attorney general. Becerra is also a declared candidate in the upcoming governor’s race, while speculation continues to swirl around Harris potentially entering the field.

“Now, we have come to learn this cover-up includes two prominent California politicians… one who is running for Governor and another who is thinking about running for Governor,” Villaraigosa added, without ambiguity. “Those who were complicit… should take responsibility for the part they played in this debacle, hold themselves accountable, and apologize to the American people.”

He further urged Harris and Becerra to make themselves available to voters and the media, stating, “There’s a lot of questions that need to be answered.”

Mixed Responses and Broader Context

Fox News Digital reached out to the offices of Kamala Harris and the Bidens but did not receive comment before publication. Becerra, however, issued a public defense of his record, pointing to the administration’s healthcare achievements during Biden’s term.

“It’s clear the President was getting older,” Becerra acknowledged. “But he made the mission clear: run the largest health agency in the world, expand care to millions more Americans than ever before, negotiate down the cost of prescription drugs, and pull us out of a worldwide pandemic. And we delivered.”

President Biden, in a recent appearance on “The View,” dismissed suggestions of significant cognitive decline. The ongoing debate has gained momentum following the release of “Original Sin,” a book detailing alleged efforts by senior officials to shield the public from concerns over Biden’s health.

Meanwhile, Biden’s personal office recently confirmed that he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer, describing it as a high-grade, metastatic condition. The revelation has further fueled discussions around transparency and the health of senior elected officials.

As the California gubernatorial race heats up, Villaraigosa’s call for accountability may increase pressure on both Harris and Becerra to respond directly, especially as healthcare and leadership credibility remain central campaign issues.