Democrat Xavier Becerra is leading among the crowded field of gubernatorial candidates for California’s governor’s race, with Republican Steve Hilton and Democrat Tom Steyer close in tow, a new poll released Wednesday, May 13, shows.
If the June primary election were held today, 19% of likely voters would cast a ballot for Becerra, according to an Emerson College Polling/Inside California Politics poll.
Hilton and Steyer follow close behind, each capturing about 17% of voters.
Republican Chad Bianco is polling at about 11%, while Democrat Katie Porter is at about 10%. Democratic candidate Matt Mahan follows with 8% support. Democrats Antonio Villaraigosa and Tony Thurmond trail, each with 4% support or less.
About 12% of voters remain undecided.
When undecided voters were asked to pick a candidate, support for Becerra increased by 1 percentage point to 20%; Steyer’s support increased by 2 percentage points to 19%; and Porter’s support increased by 3 percentage points to 13%.
Among voters who have decided on a candidate, 60% said they would definitely support their gubernatorial pick, while 40% said there is a chance they may change their minds and vote for a different candidate.
Among the top three candidates, Hilton voters are most likely to stick with their candidate choice at 72%. Fifty-two percent of Becerra voters said they will definitely vote for him, and 48% said they may change their minds. For Steyer, 52% of his voters said there is a chance they may change their minds, while 48% said they will definitely support him.
In a separate Kreate Strategies poll released Sunday, May 10, Hilton led the pack of gubernatorial candidates with 22% support among voters for June’s primary, and Becerra was 2 percentage points behind at 20%. Steyer and Bianco followed, with 14% and 13% of voters, respectively.
The Emerson College poll, sponsored by Nexstar Media Group and conducted with a sample of 1,000 likely primary voters between Saturday, May 9, and Sunday, May 10, had a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.
How does poll compare to previous Emerson College polls?
Compared to previous Emerson College polls, Becerra has surged among likely voters, particularly after the exit of candidate Eric Swalwell from the governor’s race amid sexual assault allegations. Becerra has gained 16 percentage points since a survey conducted in March.
Hilton and Steyer have also seen momentum increase by 4 and 3 percentage points, respectively. Porter has gained 2 percentage points since March.
Though Bianco saw some gains among likely voters in April, he has since dropped back to 11%, matching his March numbers.
What else did Emerson College survey find?
In the most recent Emerson College survey, 95% of voters said they are very likely to vote in the upcoming primary election, and about 5% said they’ve already cast their ballot.
Nearly 70% of California voters disapprove of President Donald Trump’s job performance, compared to 43% of voters who approve of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s performance as governor.
Voters identified the economy (41.8%) as the most important issue facing the Golden State, followed by housing affordability (21.2%) and threats to democracy (8.5%).
Who’s running for California governor?
In California, there is a top-two primary system in which all candidates are listed on the same ballot. The top two vote-getters move on to the general election, regardless of their party affiliation, meaning there is the potential for two candidates from the same party to face off in the general election.
The top gubernatorial candidates include:
Other notable Democratic candidates include Matt Mahan, Antonio Villaraigosa, and Tony Thurmond. An additional 51 candidates are also running for governor. A list of candidates and their titles can be found here.
Key dates for June primary
County election officials had a deadline of Monday, May 4, to mail vote-by-mail ballots to registered voters. Ballot drop-off locations opened the following day.
Here are some key upcoming dates for the June primary:
When is the governor’s race?
Voters will choose the Golden State’s next governor during California’s general election on Tuesday, Nov. 3.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Becerra edges rivals in tight California governor race, poll shows
Reporting by Daniella Segura, USA TODAY NETWORK / Palm Springs Desert Sun
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
