Xavier Becerra, the Democratic candidate for governor, has gained a significant edge over Republican contender Steve Hilton, as revealed by a recent poll.
According to research from the Public Policy Institute of California, Becerra currently leads Hilton by 25 points—61% of voters back Becerra compared to 36% for Hilton, who previously hosted at Fox News.
This marks a sharp contrast from the June 2 primary, where Becerra received about 28.1% of the votes and Hilton followed closely with approximately 24.7%.
Because of California’s top-two primary system, both candidates progressed to the general election on November 3, following incumbent Governor Gavin Newsom’s term limit restrictions.
The latest polling indicates that Becerra has successfully won over many Democratic voters who initially supported other candidates in the primaries, such as billionaire Tom Steyer, who just missed the chance to enter the general election.
Becerra has gained traction across virtually all major voting demographics surveyed. The poll indicates he holds a lead over Hilton among various age groups, gender identities, housing situations, income brackets, and ethnicities throughout the state.
Support remains largely divided along party lines, with 93% of likely Democratic voters favoring Becerra while 90% of Republicans back Hilton. Among independents, Becerra has a clear advantage with 60% support compared to Hilton’s 34%.
Environmental policies appear to be a deciding factor for many voters come November. Around 85% of prospective voters say a candidate’s stance on these issues is crucial, including 48% who describe it as “very important.”
Democrats seem to prioritize environmental concerns significantly more than Republicans, with 60% of them labeling it as very important, in contrast to just 29% of Republicans and 44% of independents.
This polling comes as California faces ongoing discussions about severe wildfires, climate change, and environmental regulations, all of which will likely be prominent in the upcoming campaign.
Additionally, the polls indicate that Democrats enjoy a robust lead in California’s legislative races. When queried about their local U.S. House race, 63% of potential voters expressed support for the Democratic candidate, while 35% leaned toward the Republican side—a figure that has remained quite stable since earlier PPIC surveys.
Moreover, Californians generally view Governor Newsom more favorably than President Trump concerning environmental issues. About half of likely voters approve of Newsom’s handling of these concerns, whereas only a quarter approve of Trump’s record.
The survey included responses from 1,578 California adults, including 1,003 likely voters, conducted between June 29 and July 6, as the race for the general election gains momentum leading up to the November 3 vote.
