Democratic gubernatorial candidate Xavier Becerra has established a substantial lead over Republican opponent Steve Hilton, according to a new poll released by the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC). The survey found Becerra with 61% of likely voter support compared to Hilton's 36%, a 25-percentage-point advantage.
This represents a considerable change from the state's June 2 blanket primary, where Becerra secured approximately 28.1% of the vote and Hilton followed with about 24.7%. Under California's top-two primary system, both candidates advanced to the November 3 general election after incumbent Gov. Gavin Newsom was barred from seeking another term due to term limits.
The PPIC poll suggests Becerra has successfully consolidated support from Democratic voters who initially backed other candidates in the primary, including Tom Steyer. Becerra's lead spans across various demographics, including different age groups, genders, income levels, and racial and ethnic groups, as well as homeowners and renters. He also holds a strong advantage in every major region of the state.
Partisan support remains robust, with 93% of likely Democratic voters backing Becerra and 90% of Republicans supporting Hilton. Independent voters also show a strong preference for the Democratic candidate, with 60% supporting Becerra compared to 34% for Hilton.
Environmental policy is emerging as a key issue in the race, with 85% of likely voters deeming candidates' stances on environmental issues important to their decision. Nearly half of voters, 48%, described these issues as "very important." Democrats are significantly more likely than Republicans and independents to prioritize environmental concerns.
The findings coincide with California's ongoing struggles with devastating wildfires, growing concerns about climate change, and debates surrounding environmental regulations, issues anticipated to be central themes of the general election campaign.
The poll also indicates Democrats are maintaining a strong advantage in California's congressional races. When asked about their local U.S. House contests, 63% of likely voters indicated support for the Democratic candidate, while 35% backed the Republican. This finding has remained consistent with earlier PPIC surveys this year.
Furthermore, Californians continue to express more favorable views of Gov. Newsom than President Donald Trump regarding environmental issues. Approximately half of likely voters approve of Newsom's handling of environmental policy, in contrast to one-quarter who approve of Trump's performance.
The survey included 1,578 California adults, with 1,003 identified as likely voters. It was conducted in English and Spanish between June 29 and July 6, as the state's general election campaign begins to take shape.