New poll shows the leading candidates in the Calif. governor's race
SFGATE • • nation
Key Points:
- A recent CBS/YouGov poll shows Republican Steve Hilton leading the California governor’s race with 16% support, followed by Democrat Tom Steyer at 15%, and former attorney general Xavier Becerra rising to third with 13%.
- Becerra’s increased support comes after a period of decline and a strong debate performance where he positioned himself as a fighter against Donald Trump, endorsed by Hilton’s father.
- Billionaire Tom Steyer, who has spent over $120 million of his own money on the campaign, has steadily gained recognition and emphasizes structural changes to address California’s housing affordability crisis.
- Other candidates include Republican Chad Bianco at 10%, Democrat Katie Porter at 9%, and San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan and former LA Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa tied at 4%, with 26% of voters still undecided.
- Key campaign issues highlighted include crime and homelessness (Bianco), affordable childcare and education (Porter), and healthcare reform and pandemic response critiques (Mahan and Becerra).
