{"id":2602299,"date":"2026-05-13T16:15:01","date_gmt":"2026-05-13T20:15:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/becerra-anointed-front-runner-in-california-gubernatorial-race-poll\/"},"modified":"2026-05-13T16:17:40","modified_gmt":"2026-05-13T20:17:40","slug":"becerra-anointed-front-runner-in-california-gubernatorial-race-poll","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/becerra-anointed-front-runner-in-california-gubernatorial-race-poll\/","title":{"rendered":"Becerra anointed front-runner in California gubernatorial race: 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\">16<\/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%2Fbecerra-anointed-front-runner-in-california-gubernatorial-race-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=2602299&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>Xavier Becerra is leading California\u2019s crowded 2026 gubernatorial primary field for the first time, according to an Emerson College Polling survey released Wednesday. Becerra earns 19% support, with Republican Steve hilton and businessman Tom Steyer close behind at 17% each. Former Rep. Katie Porter follows at 10%, while San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan is at 8%, and 12% of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/terry-mcauliffe-fundraises-for-self-described-democratic-socialist\/\" title=\"Terry McAuliffe Fundraises For Self-Described Democratic Socialist\">voters remain undecided<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>the poll of 1,000 likely primary voters (sampled Saturday and Sunday) has a margin of error of \u00b13 points. Emerson\u2019s executive director says Becerra\u2019s support has grown since mid-April, driven in part by stronger support among Democratic voters. The article also notes that after former Rep. Eric Swalwell dropped out last month, Democrats hoped the \u201cjungle\u201d primary system wouldn\u2019t fragment in a way that could help Republicans-since only the top two vote-getters, regardless of party, advance to the general election.<\/p>\n<p>With less than a month left, controversy has also intensified. A viral video shows Becerra reacting to interview questions, prompting a backlash and giving opponents a chance to criticize him. His campaign argues the exchange was taken out of context, while rival campaigns amplified it. The top gubernatorial candidates are scheduled to debate again Thursday night in San Francisco before the primary.  <\/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 Health and Human Services Secretary <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/xavier-becerra\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"1719\">Xavier Becerra<\/a> has emerged as the front-runner in <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/california\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"60\">California\u2019s<\/a> crowded <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/2026-election\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"11675\">race for governor<\/a>, according to a poll released Wednesday.<\/p>\n<p>The <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/emersoncollegepolling.com\/california-2026-poll-becerra-continues-to-surge-steyer-and-hilton-compete-for-second-spot\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/emersoncollegepolling.com\/california-2026-poll-becerra-continues-to-surge-steyer-and-hilton-compete-for-second-spot\/\">survey<\/a>, conducted by\u00a0Emerson College Polling\u00a0and\u00a0Inside California Politics, found Becerra leading the field with 19% support. He was followed closely by Republican candidate\u00a0Steve Hilton\u00a0and Democratic businessman <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/tom-steyer\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"2792\">Tom Steyer<\/a>, who each received 17%.<\/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\/4567146\/kemp-calls-special-session-new-georgia-maps-2028\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Kemp calls special session to draw new Georgia maps for 2028<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/4566472\/tennessee-democrats-protest-new-map-stripped-committee-assigments\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Tennessee Democrats who protested new map stripped of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/senate-leaders-struggle-to-agree-on-splitting-power-over-dueling-stances-on-keeping-filibuster-in-practice\/\" title=\"Senate leaders struggle to agree on splitting power over dueling stances on keeping filibuster in practice\">committee assignments<\/a><\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/4566472\/tennessee-democrats-protest-new-map-stripped-committee-assignments\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Tennessee Democrats who protested new map stripped of committee assignments<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p>Former Rep. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/katie-porter\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"10247\">Katie Porter<\/a> trailed at 10%, while San Jose Mayor <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/4554951\/california-governor-race-back-to-back-debates-mail-in-voting\/\" type=\"post\" id=\"4554951\">Matt Mahan<\/a> drew 8%. Another 12% of voters said they remain undecided.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Xavier Becerra, a candidate in California\u2019s gubernatorial race, speaks during a gubernatorial debate hosted by Nexstar on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, in San Francisco. (Jason Henry\/Pool Photo via AP)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cXavier Becerra tops the crowded California primary for the first time in an Emerson poll, his support increased by 9 points since <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/emersoncollegepolling.com\/california-2026-poll-april\/\">mid-April<\/a>, driven by now being the top choice among Democratic voters at 31%,\u201d said Spencer Kimball, executive director of Emerson College Polling. \u201cSteve Hilton and Tom Steyer closely follow at 17% respectively, Hilton\u2019s support stagnant, while Steyer\u2019s support increased 3 points since April.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The survey of 1,000 likely primary voters was conducted Saturday and Sunday and carries a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.<\/p>\n<p>The race to succeed <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/gavin-newsom\/\">Gov. Gavin Newsom <\/a>(D-CA) had been wide open for months. Former Rep. Eric Swalwell started moving to the top before dropping out last month after multiple women accused him of sexual assault and misconduct.\u00a0Becerra had been stuck in the low single digits\u00a0in a race that at one point featured as many as 60 candidates. Swalwell\u2019s departure reshaped the field, injecting new momentum into Becerra\u2019s campaign and boosting his fundraising.<\/p>\n<p>For months, Democratic leaders were worried that a fragmented field could split the vote and risk shutting Democrats out of the November contest altogether by boosting the two Republican candidates: Hilton, a former Fox News host who was\u00a0once an adviser to former British Prime Minister David Cameron, and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, in the June 2 primary election. If Steyer is able to sneak ahead of Hilton, then both Republicans could end up missing out.<\/p>\n<p>California uses a \u201cjungle\u201d primary system, which places all candidates on the same ballot and advances the top two vote-getters, regardless of party, to the general election.<\/p>\n<p>Newsom has declined to endorse a candidate in the primary.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-becerra-s-gotcha-moment\">Becerra\u2019s \u2018gotcha\u2019 moment<\/h2>\n<p>With less than a month to go, candidates are doing everything to get the edge \u2014 as well as capitalize on their opponent\u2019s missteps.<\/p>\n<p>A newly surfaced video of Becerra attempting to shape the tone of a television interview went viral Tuesday, triggering backlash and handing critics an early opening against his campaign.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">By the way, part of being Governor is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/al-qaeda-is-back-in-afghanistan-already-biden-spox-john-kirby-faces-rapid-fire-questions\/\" title=\"Al Qaeda Is Back In Afghanistan Already? Biden Spox John Kirby Faces Rapid Fire ...\">answering tough questions<\/a>. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/y8z1FEE3xZ\">pic.twitter.com\/y8z1FEE3xZ<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Mahan HQ (@MattMahanHQ) <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/MattMahanHQ\/status\/2054257912919601307?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">May 12, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script> <\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>\u201cBy the way, this is a profile piece, this is not a \u2018gotcha\u2019 piece, right?\u201d Becerra asked a KTLA reporter moments before the interview began airing on Tuesday.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think these questions are fair,\u201d Ramos replied. \u201cIt\u2019s in order to learn about you as a candidate.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The California television station later shared the exchange online, where it quickly gained traction. KTLA anchors revisited the moment with Ramos on air, while clips spread rapidly across social media and drew immediate criticism from Becerra\u2019s political opponents.<\/p>\n<p>Becerra\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-gets-a-visitor-at-mar-a-lago-who-is-reportedly-on-his-vp-short-list\/\" title=\"Trump receives a visitor at Mar-a-Lago, potentially on his VP shortlist\">campaign pushed back<\/a> against the backlash, arguing the exchange was being taken out of context.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cUnlike other candidates in the race, Becerra sticks around even when the questions get tough,\u201d campaign spokesman Jonathan Underland said in a statement. \u201cHe\u2019s proven over decades in public service that he will always show up, take questions, and defend the right of journalists to do their jobs.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Mahan\u2019s campaign spliced together a video of Becerra with one of Porter being testy with a reporter that went viral.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBy the way, part of being Governor is answering tough questions,\u201d Mahan\u2019s campaign posted on X.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/4566609\/karen-bass-keep-lead-la-mayor-race-after-debate\/\" type=\"post\" id=\"4566609\">KAREN BASS KEEPS LEAD IN LA MAYORAL RACE AFTER FIERY DEBATE<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The clip had received more than 224,400 views as of midday Wednesday.<\/p>\n<p>The top candidates for governor will square off one more time on Thursday night in San Francisco before the primary.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Xavier Becerra leads California governor race at 19% in poll<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2646,"featured_media":2602300,"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\/04\/AP26113136810431.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[4045,51159,50878],"class_list":["post-2602299","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-california","tag-gubernatorial-election","tag-poll-2"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/AP26113136810431.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2602299","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=2602299"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2602299\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2602303,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2602299\/revisions\/2602303"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2602300"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2602299"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2602299"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2602299"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}