{"id":2598690,"date":"2026-05-04T18:31:59","date_gmt":"2026-05-04T22:31:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/xavier-becerra-and-steve-hilton-tied-as-california-governor-race-tightens-poll\/"},"modified":"2026-05-04T18:34:32","modified_gmt":"2026-05-04T22:34:32","slug":"xavier-becerra-and-steve-hilton-tied-as-california-governor-race-tightens-poll","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/xavier-becerra-and-steve-hilton-tied-as-california-governor-race-tightens-poll\/","title":{"rendered":"Xavier Becerra and Steve Hilton tied as California governor race tightens: Poll"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">24<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fxavier-becerra-and-steve-hilton-tied-as-california-governor-race-tightens-poll%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2598690&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Former Fox host Steve Hilton and former California Attorney General xavier Becerra are tied for the lead in California\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ga-republicans-launch-stop-stacey-effort-ahead-of-possible-abrams-2022-announcement\/\" title=\"GA Republicans Launch \u2018S... Stacey\u2019 Effort Ahead Of Possible Abrams 2022 Announcement\">gubernatorial race<\/a> at 18% each, according too a recent California Democratic Party poll released as voting for the June 2 primary begins. Both candidates gained since the prior survey.<\/p>\n<p>Becerra\u2019s rise is being credited by his campaign as voters seeking a governor who can both fight and win, while the poll shows the undecided share dropping to 14% from 24% in March-suggesting less room for other candidates to surge. The next Republican, riverside Sheriff Chad Bianco, holds steady at 14%, while billionaire investor Tom Steyer and former Rep. Katie Porter are down slightly, and San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan is at 7%. Other strategists argue that with ballots going out,it\u2019s unlikely for new contenders to overtake the top two.<\/p>\n<p>The article also notes that this poll is part of a series measuring a crowded field and preventing Democrats from being shut out of the November <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/impossible-gop-picked-up-seats-in-house-picked-up-state-legislatures-picked-up-governorship-held-the-senate-but-sniffy-joe-won-not-a-chance\/\" title=\"IMPOSSIBLE: GOP Picked Up Seats in House, Picked Up State Legislatures, Picked Up ...ship, Held the Senate -- But Sniffy Joe Won?... NOT A CHANCE\">general election<\/a>. Becerra\u2019s momentum is tied to his earlier struggles in the large candidate pool and a major shift after Eric Swalwell\u2019s fall from grace last month, which reportedly boosted Becerra\u2019s campaign fundraising and attention. The top two candidates will debate on Tuesday and Wednesday.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p>Former Fox host <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/4518040\/trump-endorsement-steve-hilton-california-gubernatorial-race\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/4518040\/trump-endorsement-steve-hilton-california-gubernatorial-race\/\">Steve Hilton <\/a>and former California Attorney General <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/xavier-becerra\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"1719\">Xavier Becerra <\/a>are tied for the top spot in California\u2019s <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/2026-election\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"11675\">gubernatorial race<\/a>, according to the latest California <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/cadem.org\/california-democratic-party-releases-new-california-voter-index-tracking-survey\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/cadem.org\/california-democratic-party-releases-new-california-voter-index-tracking-survey\/\">Democratic Party poll<\/a> published Monday.<\/p>\n<p>Becerra, a Democrat, and Hilton, a Republican, both saw gains from the previous survey, with each now at 18% as voting for the June 2 primary gets underway.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/4553842\/amy-klobuchar-minnesota-fraud-plan-corruption-gubernatorial-race\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Amy Klobuchar touts Minnesota fraud plan as corruption concerns take front seat in gubernatorial race<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/4551819\/arizona-governor-candidates-lieutenant-governor\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Arizona governor candidates pick running mates for first time with state\u2019s new lieutenant governor office<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/4552043\/inside-battle-virginia-abortion-ballot-referendum\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Inside the coming battle over Virginia\u2019s abortion ballot referendum<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p>\u201cThe message from California voters is clear,\u201d Becerra spokesperson Jonathan Underland told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>. \u201cThey want a governor who can fight, and a governor who can win. Becerra delivers on both, and his surge proves it.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Steve Hilton, left, and Xavier Becerra speak during a break in a California gubernatorial debate hosted by CBS LA at Pomona College in Claremont, Calif., Tuesday, April 28, 2026. (AP Photo\/Jae C. Hong)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The other Republican in the race, Riverside Sheriff Chad Bianco, remained flat at 14%. Billionaire investor\u00a0Tom Steyer and former Rep. Katie Porter saw slight declines from the April 20 poll, while San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan posted a modest bump to 7%. The share of undecided voters has dropped from 24% in March to 14%, a clear sign that voters are beginning to tune in.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis California Democratic Party poll reaffirms what other <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/republican-insiders-predict-tuesday-bloodbath-for-dems\/\" title=\"Republican Insiders Predict Tuesday &quot;Bloodbath&quot; for Dems\">recent public polls<\/a> have shown, that Becerra and Hilton have emerged as the genuine front-runners,\u201d veteran political strategist Garry South told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>. \u201cWith ballots being mailed today, there really isn\u2019t time for any other candidate to make a move to the top two. For all his more than $150 million spent so far, Steyer is at exactly 12%. You have to wonder who would hire him after this as an investment advisor.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>California Democratic Party Chairman Rusty Hicks said the newest results \u201cshow movement in the race and progress towards ensuring a strong Democrat is elected the next governor of California.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The EVITARUS poll is the fourth in a series commissioned by the California Democratic Party to gauge the crowded field, amid concerns that Democrats could be locked out of the November general election. In the previous three surveys, Hilton and Bianco led. <\/p>\n<p>Becerra had been stuck in the low single digits as he sought to succeed term-limited Gov. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/gavin-newsom\/\">Gavin Newsom<\/a> (D-CA) in a race that at one point featured as many as 60 candidates.\u00a0Becerra\u2019s catapult\u00a0to the top tier came after former Rep. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/eric-swalwell\/\">Eric Swalwell\u2019s<\/a> epic fall from grace last month following allegations of sexual assault and misconduct.\u00a0Swalwell\u2019s departure reshaped the field, injecting new momentum into Becerra\u2019s campaign and boosting his fundraising. His team says it pulled in more than 20,000 donations over the past couple of weeks, with 97% from first-time contributors. <\/p>\n<p>The race to succeed <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/gavin-newsom\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"1426\">Gov. Gavin Newsom <\/a>(D-CA) had become wide open, with a crowded field competing in the state\u2019s nonpartisan primary. California\u2019s \u201cjungle primary\u201d places all candidates on the same ballot, with the top two vote-getters, regardless of party, advancing to the general election. Newsom has declined to endorse a candidate in the primary.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/4541416\/xavier-becerra-momentum-california-governor-race\/\" type=\"post\" id=\"4541416\">BECERRA GAINS MOMENTUM IN CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR\u2019S RACE <\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Although Republicans have historically struggled in statewide races in heavily Democratic California, a fractured Democratic field split the vote, allowing two GOP candidates to rise to the top of the polls. That, <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >multiple strategists told<\/a> the <em>Washington Examiner, <\/em>seems less and less likely now. <\/p>\n<p>The top candidates will square off in two debates this week, on Tuesday and Wednesday. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Hilton and Becerra tie at 18% in latest CA governor poll<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2646,"featured_media":2598691,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/AP26119040886712.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[4045,45165,32742,44966,45426],"class_list":["post-2598690","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-california","tag-election-polling","tag-gavin-newsom","tag-steve-hilton","tag-xavier-becerra"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/AP26119040886712.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2598690","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2646"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2598690"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2598690\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2598694,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2598690\/revisions\/2598694"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2598691"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2598690"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2598690"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2598690"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}