In the aftermath of Eric Swalwell’s controversy-filled exit from the California governor’s race, a new poll shows Xavier Becerra has surged in popularity, gaining a whopping 11 points, tying billionaire Democrat Tom Steyer for second place.
Jumping from just 4% in early April to now 15%, Becerra is in second place, even with Tom Steyer. Republican Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco trails the pair by one point, and Democrat Rep. Katie Porter is a point behind Bianco.
Republican Steve Hilton remains in the lead for California governor, with 20% of the vote. However, this is two points down from the beginning of April.
Since 2010, California has operated under a top-two primary system, meaning the two highest-polling candidates, regardless of party, advance to the general election. The latest results suggest Hilton is well-positioned to secure a runoff spot, while the battle for second place remains highly competitive among Steyer, Becerra, Bianco, and Porter.
In a previous interview with The Daily Signal, Klink Campaigns President Matt Klink said Xavier Becerra and San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan “have a better case to pull in some of the Swalwell voters than the presumed frontrunners,” arguing that Steyer and Porter “have some baggage that they have to deal with.”
While Becerra may face fewer political liabilities than some rivals, he has drawn criticism from both the Left and Right over his record on abortion policy and his tenure as President Joe Biden’s Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services during the COVID-19 pandemic.
