Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton is narrowly leading Democrat Xavier Becerra among voters in Orange County, California, according to a poll released by the University of California, Irvine. The poll, conducted between June 9 and June 12, showed Hilton with 47% of the vote share compared to Becerra's 44%.
Within Orange County, Hilton holds 94% support among registered Republicans, while Becerra garners 82% support from registered Democrats. The poll also indicated that among independent voters in the county, Becerra holds a lead with 46% compared to Hilton's 38%.
Hilton, in a statement regarding the poll results, said, "We have moved ahead of Becerra in California’s 3rd largest county. Millions of Californians are saying: Enough Is Enough! Let’s Fix California!"
Orange County, once a Republican stronghold, has trended more Democratic in voter registrations over the past decade. However, a significant number of independent voters, nearly a third of the county's electorate, has allowed Republican candidates to maintain a competitive edge in local races.
Poll director Jon Gould suggested that Hilton's more moderate positioning, compared to other Republican candidates, might be contributing to his appeal in the county. Gould noted that Hilton presents himself in a manner reminiscent of past moderately conservative Republican figures.
Hilton's campaign has also focused on voter dissatisfaction with the status quo, while navigating his relationship with former President Donald Trump, who has endorsed him. Hilton recently ran a full-page ad questioning, "Can you be anti-Trump but still vote for me?"
Despite this local development, Becerra maintains a significant advantage statewide. A separate poll from the Public Policy Institute of California in mid-July found Becerra leading Hilton by 25 percentage points, with 61% of likely voters supporting Becerra compared to 36% for Hilton.
Election Day is scheduled for November 3, with mail ballots expected to be sent out by October 5.