Becerra Leads in California Governor Race as Democrat Machine Mobilizes, Conservatives Face Uphill Battle
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A recent poll shows Democrat Xavier Becerra leading the California governor’s race, with Republican Steve Hilton and Democrat billionaire Tom Steyer in a close fight for second as the primary approaches. The poll highlights the challenges conservatives face in a state dominated by liberal interests.
Xavier Becerra has taken the lead in the contest to replace Governor Gavin Newsom, securing 25% support among likely voters in a new UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies poll. Republican Steve Hilton is close behind with 21%, while Democrat billionaire and environmental activist Tom Steyer holds 19%, reflecting the outsized influence of wealthy liberals in California politics.
Becerra’s support has skyrocketed from just 5% in March, a testament to the power of the Democrat political machine and left-wing mobilization efforts. Meanwhile, conservative voices like Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco have seen their support dwindle to 6%, and former Democratic Representative Katie Porter has dropped to 7%, showing the difficulty for any candidate not fully aligned with the state’s progressive establishment.
Poll director Mark DiCamillo admitted the unpredictability of the race, especially with historically low voter turnout. He noted the expectation that Democrats would flood the polls in the final week before the June 2 primary, a scenario that could further marginalize Republican and independent voters.
Among Democrats, Becerra leads Steyer by 11 points, while Republican voters strongly back Hilton, who leads Bianco by nearly two to one. Becerra’s dominance among women and Latino voters reflects the effectiveness of Democrat identity politics, while Steyer’s appeal to Black voters and Hilton’s support among libertarians and Orange County residents highlight the state’s deep ideological divides.
The campaign has been rocked by the withdrawal of several candidates amid controversies, but the most glaring issue remains Steyer’s record-breaking $212 million in self-funding—a clear example of how liberal billionaires can attempt to buy influence. Voters are increasingly concerned about issues like healthcare funding cuts and the soaring cost of living, problems that have only worsened under Democrat rule.
With the possibility that two Democrats could advance to the general election, DiCamillo warned this would be a major setback for Republicans and could depress turnout in critical congressional races, threatening GOP representation in the U.S. House. The poll, conducted among more than 8,500 registered voters with a 2-point margin of error, underscores the uphill battle conservatives face in California’s one-party system.