Becerra, Hilton Lead in California Governor’s Race Poll Ahead of June Primary

Key Points:

• Former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra leads the California gubernatorial poll with 23% support among likely voters, followed closely by Republican businessman and former Fox News commentator Kevin Faulconer Hilton at 20%.
• Billionaire progressive activist Tom Steyer holds 15% support, while Republican Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco and Democrat former Rep. Katie Porter have 13% and 12% respectively, rounding out the top five candidates.
• The poll marks the first indication of two candidates surpassing 20% support, suggesting a likely Democrat-Republican runoff in November, with Becerra gaining momentum after Eric Swalwell's exit amid allegations.
• President Donald Trump's endorsement has significantly boosted Hilton's standing among Republican voters, despite a decline in Republicans' optimism about the country's direction; Trump maintains a 75% approval rating among California GOP voters.
• Cost of living and affordability remain the top state concerns for Californians, while political extremism and threats to democracy are seen as major national issues, according to the May 14-18 PPIC poll with a 3.2% margin of error.