As the California governor race draws nearer, Democrat Xavier Becerra dominates the polls with a double-digit lead ahead of Republican Steve Hilton. Becerra leads by 27 points according to the new Inside California Politics/Emerson College poll published Wednesday.
60% of the voters polled are leaning toward Becerra while 33% will vote for Hilton. Seven percent are undecided. When undecided voters were asked which candidate they prefer, Becerra leads 64% to 36%.
“Becerra leads Hilton in the race for governor, outside the survey’s margin of error,” said Spencer Kimball, executive director of Emerson College Polling, in a statement. “California independents break for Becerra by 10 points, 46% to 36%, a group Hilton would need more support among to compete in the general election.”
This is the most significant progress in Becerra’s campaign, who most recently worked as Secretary of Health and Human Services under President Joe Biden. Languishing in the polls earlier this year, Becerra’s polling numbers launched after frontrunner Rep. Eric Swalwell dropped out of the race following sexual misconduct allegations.
Weeks later, Becerra rivaled Hilton, a former businessman and Fox News personality, coming out on top in the June primary. He clutched 28% of the vote, with Hilton coming in at 24.6%. Both candidates moved on to the general election.
The poll also asked respondents to name their top concerns in California, with 45% ranking the economy as their biggest issue. 17% named housing affordability, followed by healthcare and immigration, both at 10% respectively.
Around half of respondents blamed the economy’s poor health on President Donald Trump. Another 38% pointed to Newsom for it, while 7% faulted the Republicans in Congress.
In addition to the new governor, Californians will vote on other officer positions, like lieutenant governor, as well as 14 ballot propositions.
The winner of the upcoming election succeeds Gov. Gavin Newsom, who many expect to run for the 2028 U.S. presidential nomination. He has yet to confirm his plans following his term as governor.
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