Becerra, Hilton Lead in Race for Governor
Becerra’s 23% lead and Hilton’s 20% showing suggest a likely Democrat-Republican runoff, while Steyer’s $213 million self-funding has not broken through.
- On Wednesday, a Public Policy Institute poll showed Democrat Xavier Becerra leading California's gubernatorial race with 23% support, followed by Republican Steve Hilton at 20% as the June 2 primary approaches.
- California's 'top-two' primary system allows the two highest vote-getters to advance regardless of party, creating volatility that once raised Democratic fears of a Republican 'lockout' before recent consolidation around Becerra and Hilton.
- Trailing the leaders, billionaire Democrat Tom Steyer holds 15% support, followed by Republican Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco at 13% and former Democrat Katie Porter at 12%, creating a crowded five-candidate tier.
- Traders on prediction markets favor a Democratic win in the November general election, though they price Hilton as competitive for a runoff spot; his path to statewide victory remains narrow given California's Democratic advantage.
- With the June 2 primary election just days away, campaigns are making final pushes to consolidate support, knowing small shifts in turnout or late-deciding voters could still determine which two candidates advance to November.
28 Articles
28 Articles
California's next governor discernible as Becerra, Hilton pull ahead
This commentary was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters. The 2026 campaign for Gov. Gavin Newsom’s successor may be all but over after the votes from next week’s primary are counted, even with an election still needing to be staged in November. A new poll by the Public Policy Institute of California found that Democrat Xavier Becerra, a former congressman, state attorney general and Biden cabinet member, and Republ…
Becerra, Hilton lead in race for governor
By CalMatters Democrat Xavier Becerra and Republican Steve Hilton are holding on to the lead in the latest poll ahead of the California governor election. That’s according to the Public Policy Institute of California, which surveyed 986 likely voters earlier this month. Nearly a quarter of those surveyed (23%) said they’d vote for Becerra, followed by Hilton at 20%, Tom Steyer at 15%, Chad Bianco at 13% and Katie Porter at 12%. Some Californians…
Poll Shows Clear Frontrunner in Race to Replace Newsom
Robert F. Kennedy's predecessor may be on course to become Gavin Newsom's successor. Xavier Becerra, who served as health secretary during the Biden administration, is emerging as the frontrunner to replace the California governor, a newly released poll suggests, with just days to go before California's June 2 primary. The...
LA Daily News
New poll points to possible Becerra-Hilton matchup in California governor’s race
Poll finds voters favoring Becerra and Hilton, also inclined toward proposed November tax on billionaires.
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