Becerra, Hilton pull ahead in California governor's race

Key Points:

• A new Public Policy Institute of California poll shows Democrat Xavier Becerra and Republican Steve Hilton leading the race to succeed Gov. Gavin Newsom, with both poised to finish as the top two in the June 2 primary and face off in the November general election.
• The poll indicates strong Democratic support in California, nearly 2-to-1 over Republicans, suggesting Becerra is likely to become the next governor despite a late surge in his campaign following Eric Swalwell’s withdrawal amid misconduct allegations.
• Billionaire Democrat Tom Steyer trails with 15% support despite spending nearly $200 million on ads, while Republican Chad Bianco and Democrat Katie Porter follow behind, reflecting a diminished GOP threat and Democratic concerns about the top-two primary system.
• The top-two primary system, established in 2010 to encourage centrist candidates, remains popular with about 60% of voters satisfied, though some Democrats are advocating for a return to closed party primaries after the recent election dynamics.
• The race has been unpredictable due to the absence of prominent candidates like Kamala Harris and Alex Padilla, with Becerra's rise and Swalwell's exit reshaping the contest and Steyer's campaign dismissing the poll as outdated.