California Governor's Race Tightens as Becerra's Lead Over Hilton Shrinks to 5.6 Points
A new post-debate poll reveals a significant shift in the California gubernatorial race, with a substantial portion of voters remaining undecided.
The contest for California governor has tightened considerably, with Democratic candidate Xavier Becerra now holding a narrow 5.6-point lead over Republican Steve Hilton, according to a new poll released immediately after the candidates' first debate. The survey indicates that 14.1% of California voters remain undecided.
The poll, commissioned by the Hilton campaign and conducted by pollster David Wolfson from October 1-2, surveyed 1,020 California voters. It found Becerra with 45.7% support compared to Hilton's 40.1%. This marks a notable shift from a previous poll that showed Becerra with a 15-point advantage (52% to 37%).
Becerra's support has decreased by 6.3 percentage points since the earlier survey, while Hilton has gained 3.1 points. This results in a 9.4-point swing in the margin between the two candidates. With a significant portion of the electorate still undecided, the race remains competitive.
The Wolfson survey also highlighted a prevalent dissatisfaction among California voters regarding the state's direction. Nearly 59% of voters believe California is heading in the wrong direction, while only 28.1% feel it is moving in the right direction. This sentiment could potentially benefit Hilton, whose campaign has focused on frustration with the state's high costs and current leadership.
Despite the tightening race, Becerra maintains an advantage among voters who have made a choice. When undecided voters were asked to lean toward a candidate, 72.5% favored Becerra, while 27.5% favored Hilton.
Neither candidate appears to have strong favorability ratings. Becerra has a 44.1% favorable rating versus a 45.3% unfavorable rating. Hilton's numbers are less favorable, with 35.5% favorable and 50.7% unfavorable.
The poll was conducted following an October 1 debate between Becerra and Hilton. Approximately 11.2% of respondents reported watching the entire debate, with another 9.5% watching part of it. Additionally, nearly 20% saw clips or highlights online, and a similar percentage followed news coverage of the event without watching the debate itself.
The latest polling figures represent a departure from several recent public polls that indicated a wider lead for Becerra. The poll's release comes amid accusations from Hilton that Becerra has misrepresented his background regarding immigration. Hilton, who identifies as an immigrant and whose family has immigrant ties, has contrasted his experience with Becerra's claims about his parents' immigration to the U.S. The Becerra campaign has not yet responded to a request for comment on these specific claims.