California Gubernatorial Primary Countdown

With just a month to go until California’s gubernatorial primary, recent polls highlight the current candidates. A pressing concern now looms: will the Democratic Party’s struggle to unite behind a single contender lead to significant ramifications?

The state’s primary elections allow voters from all parties to participate, meaning the two candidates who top the vote totals will move on to the general election, regardless of party affiliation.

According to a public opinion poll, Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco and former Fox News host Steve Hilton, both Republicans, are currently leading the pack. If Democratic voters in California remain split, there’s a chance Bianco and Hilton could be the top two candidates heading into the general election.

A CBS poll from late April indicated that 26% of California voters remain undecided. However, support appears to be gathering for Democrat Tom Steyer, a businessman with a focus on climate issues, along with former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, who may become the leading Democrat.

Steyer garnered 15% of the surveyed votes, while Becerra received 13%. Additionally, former U.S. Representative Katie Porter was credited with 9% of the vote, and both San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan and former California Assembly Speaker Antonio Villaraigosa received 4%. California’s Public Instruction Superintendent Tony Thurmond trailed with 1%.

The latest survey indicated Hilton leading with 16% support, followed by Bianco with 10%.

In another survey by Gudernas Strategies, conducted during the same timeframe, Becerra emerged with a slight lead, outperforming Steyer by nine points and Hilton by one point.

The Democratic Party began its primary with eight candidates, though that number has dwindled slightly as former state Secretary Betty Yee and troubled former U.S. Representative Eric Swalwell exited the race.

Rusty Hicks, the head of the California Democratic Party, recently encouraged other Democrats to withdraw as well, hoping for a stronger front-runner to surface.

Hicks conveyed his concern about the current open primary system, emphasizing that it “needs to be modified and abolished.” He argued that, in many ways, the integrity of democracy itself is at stake.

Mail-in ballots are set to be sent to voters starting May 4th.