How three major candidates for governor are talking about their Biden administration experience

A trio of former Biden White House officials running for governor in 2026 are striking a delicate balance, pointing to their experience in the administration without leaning too aggressively into their connection to a former president still facing a raft of bad headlines

A trio of former Biden White House officials running for governor in 2026 are striking a delicate balance, pointing to their experience in the administration without leaning too aggressively into their connection to a former president still facing a raft of bad headlines.

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Those three candidates — former Interior Secretary Deb Haaland in New Mexico, former Health Secretary Xavier Becerra in California and former White House Office of Public Engagement director Keisha Lance Bottoms in Georgia — often mention their experience in the administration as a credential for running their states.

Add NBC News to GoogleKeisha Lance Bottoms wins Democratic primary for Georgia governor, NBC News projects05:04But they’ve also rarely mentioned Joe Biden by name at campaign events, and none have cut any ads in their primaries or general election campaigns that refer directly to him or include his image. It’s a notable difference from how Republican candidates up and down the ballot have completely bear-hugged Donald Trump and his record in recent years, including between his two terms.