Becerra Tied With Hilton for Lead in California Governor’s Race: Poll

Voters finally appear to be paying attention to California’s crazy governor’s race and it’s benefiting former state Attorney General Xavier Becerra.

A poll released Monday by the state Democratic Party shows Becerra, an establishment Dem, tied for the top spot with Republican Steve Hilton, a former Fox News commentator, at 18% support.

The phone and online poll surveyed 1,200 Californians in English and Spanish beginning on April 30 and ending May 2. The pollster said the margin of error is plus or minus 2.83 percentage points.

Becerra, who also served as U.S. health and human services secretary in the Biden administration, appears to be making the most of the sex scandal that knocked Democrat Eric Swalwell out of Congress and the gubernatorial campaign.

Villaraigosa and Thurmond at Bottom of Poll

In addition, the poll suggests as mail ballots go out for the June 2 top-two primary that it’s time to turn out the lights on Democrats Antonio Villaraigosa and Tony Thurmond. Villaraigosa, the former Los Angeles mayor, garnered 3% support in the poll. Thurmond, who is California’s public schools superintendent, stood at 2%.

Others who remain the hunt: Hilton’s Republican rival, Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco (15%); billionaire progressive Democrat Tom Steyer (12%); another progressive Democrat, former U.S. Rep. Katie Porter (9%); and a moderate Democrat bankrolled by the tech industry, San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan (7%).

Betty Yee, a Democrat and former state controller, pulled out of the race last month and endorsed Steyer. However, Steyer is failing to match Becerra’s momentum despite being the biggest spender in the campaign.

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