Becerra Widens Lead Over Hilton in California Governor's Race, Poll Shows
A new poll indicates Democratic candidate Xavier Becerra has extended his advantage over Republican Steve Hilton to 24 points with days remaining before the election.
California Democratic gubernatorial candidate Xavier Becerra is solidifying his lead over Republican challenger Steve Hilton, now holding a 24-point advantage, according to a Public Policy Institute of California poll released this week. The survey indicates Becerra with 61% of likely voters compared to Hilton's 37%.
The poll, conducted from October 16-22 among 1,068 likely voters, shows Becerra's support has climbed from a 22-point lead in September, when he held 60% to Hilton's 38%. His current standing mirrors the results from July, when he led 61% to 36%.
Voter turnout shows a strong partisan alignment, with approximately 90% of registered Republicans and Democrats supporting their respective party's candidate. Independent voters are leaning towards Becerra, with 54% to Hilton's 41%.
Recent polling from various organizations has consistently shown Becerra, the former Health and Human Services secretary, maintaining a lead over Hilton, who has received an endorsement from former President Donald Trump. A California Post poll last week showed Becerra with a narrower 15.7-percentage-point lead, conducted amid widespread voter dissatisfaction with the state's direction, with nearly half of Californians having considered leaving.
Political analysts suggest that the partisan divide is a significant factor in the race. "Voters are extremely partisan, and prefer one of their own to a Republican," pollster John McLaughlin told The California Post. "They will vote for Becerra and hope for the best."
According to political analyst Dan Schnur, who teaches at USC, UC Berkeley, and Pepperdine, California voters express frustration similar to those nationally, but often do not see Republican candidates as a viable alternative. "In most places, angry voters turn to the alternative," Schnur stated. "Here in California, voters simply don’t see an alternative, so they grudgingly stick with what they’ve got."
Experts also point to voter concerns about the policies of the Trump administration as a key factor driving support for Becerra, second only to the state's high cost of living. The Hilton campaign has focused on economic issues, including gas prices and advocating for no income tax on earnings below $150,000. However, analysts note the challenge for a Republican candidate in a predominantly Democratic state.
"The difficult thing is that Steve Hilton’s a Republican in California," Republican strategist Tim Rosales previously told the Los Angeles Times. "Democrats understand the cost of living, and they feel it. They just feel like they need a new Democrat to deal with it."