Becerra Extends Lead Over Hilton in California Governor's Race, Poll Shows
A new Emerson College survey indicates the Democratic candidate holds a 27-point advantage with two weeks remaining until the election.
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Xavier Becerra has widened his lead over Republican Steve Hilton in the race for California governor, with just two weeks left until the election, according to a new poll.
The Emerson College survey of 1,000 likely voters, conducted from October 17-19, shows Becerra with 60% support compared to 33% for Hilton. This marks an increase from an August Emerson College poll, which found Becerra leading by 18 points.
“California independents break for Becerra by 10 points, 46% to 36%, a group Hilton would need more support among to compete in the general election,” said Spencer Kimball, executive director of Emerson College Polling.
When asked about the top issues facing California, nearly half of voters cited the economy as their primary concern, significantly outpacing housing affordability, which was mentioned by 17% of respondents.
According to the poll, 38% of California voters attribute the state of the economy to Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, while 44% blame President Biden. This is a shift from a year ago, when 51% blamed then-President Trump and 27% blamed Newsom.
The current poll results align with a UC Berkeley poll conducted between September 15-20, which showed Becerra leading Hilton 58% to 33%. Earlier in September, internal polling had suggested a different trend, but the Emerson poll indicates the lead has remained largely consistent.
Hilton's campaign has focused on cost-of-living issues, including proposals for $3 gas and no income tax for earnings below $150,000. However, analysts suggest that overcoming the Republican disadvantage in a heavily Democratic state like California presents a significant challenge.
“The difficult thing is that Steve Hilton’s a Republican in California,” Republican strategist Tim Rosales previously told the LA Times. “Democrats “understand the cost of living, and they feel it. They just feel like they need a new Democrat to deal with it.”
Hilton has launched an advertising campaign titled “Just Try It” in an effort to appeal to non-Republican voters and encourage Democratic voters to consider alternatives. He has also previously run ads targeting voters who dislike former President Trump, despite Trump's endorsement of Hilton.
“People do not need permission from a party to want a state they can afford,” Hilton stated. “Gas, utilities, housing, schools. Sixteen years of the same government, and it keeps getting harder to live here. Just try something that actually brings costs down.”