Becerra Leads in Tight California Gubernatorial Primary

Former California Attorney General Xavier Becerra is leading in the upcoming gubernatorial primary according to the latest Emerson College Polling survey. The poll, released on Saturday, shows Becerra in front with 28% support. Billionaire Tom Steyer trails with 22%, and conservative commentator Steve Hilton is close behind with 21%.

Republican Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco received 12% in the poll. Other Democrats in the race include former Orange County Congresswoman Katie Porter and San José Mayor Matt Mahan, each garnering 5% support.

Becerra’s backing among key groups has grown significantly. He is favored by 44% of Democrats, 36% of Hispanics, and 36% of women. Hilton has secured 59% of the Republican votes, leaving Bianco with 29%. Steyer finds his strongest support among voters under 30 years old and among white voters, with 36% and 25% respectively.

If no candidate secures a majority, the top two contenders of any party will proceed to the general election in November. Spencer Kimball, executive director of Emerson College Polling, notes that if Bianco loses support by Election Day, Hilton may gain. For Steyer, success hinges on energizing younger voters and preventing further losses to Becerra.

The survey found that most voters are firm in their choice; 75% are committed to their selected candidate, while 25% are open to changing their decision. An additional 4% of voters are undecided. When prompted for an alternative choice, support remained distributed among Becerra at 28%, and both Hilton and Steyer at 23% each.

The poll surveyed 1,000 likely voters between May 27-28. Becerra’s support increased by 9 points compared to the May 9-10 results. Steyer saw a 5-point rise, and Hilton gained 4 points. Bianco saw a minor increase of 1 point, while Mahan and Porter saw declines of 3 and 5 points respectively.