Xavier Becerra's lead over Steve Hilton shrinks to 5.6 points in new California governor poll

Key Points:

• A new post-debate poll shows California governor candidate Xavier Becerra’s lead over Republican Steve Hilton has narrowed to 5.6 points, with Becerra at 45.7% and Hilton at 40.1%, while 14.1% of voters remain undecided.
• This marks a significant shift from a previous poll where Becerra held a 15-point lead, indicating a 9.4-point swing in Hilton’s favor since the first debate.
• The poll reveals widespread dissatisfaction with California’s direction, as 58.8% of voters believe the state is headed the wrong way, potentially benefiting Hilton’s campaign focused on high costs and Democratic leadership.
• Despite the tightening race, Becerra maintains an advantage among undecided voters, with 72.5% leaning toward him if forced to choose, though both candidates have unfavorable ratings above 44%.
• Hilton has accused Becerra of misrepresenting his immigrant background, emphasizing his own immigrant family history as part of his campaign narrative, while the debate and poll have intensified scrutiny on both candidates.