Before the news regarding Swalwell broke, Steyer gained 22% of support, but his approval dropped by five points after April 10. <\/p>\n
Top candidates running for California governor<\/p>\n
Republican and former Fox News host Steve Hilton received 18% support, leading among younger voters, seniors, parents, conservatives, rural voters and high-income groups. <\/p>\n
Hilton served as an adviser to British Prime Minister David Cameron, a conservative, from 2010 until 2012.<\/p>\n
Progressive Rep. Katie Porter and Republican Chad Bianco tied for third place, with Swalwell at 9%. Their ratings experienced nominal changes. <\/p>\n
Where Swalwell performed well was among people who view themselves as \u201csomewhat liberal,\u201d Porter performed best, at 17%, among voters of Asian or other descent, as did Steyer.<\/p>\n
Bianco\u2019s strongest support comes from Republicans, with 24% backing him, although Hilton leads this group substantially with 47%. <\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/DSEPFMOUT5DTFLFGC5K2C2VE2I.jpg\")
Steve Hilton speaks during a gubernatorial candidate forum in Sacramento, Calif., Tuesday, April 14, 2026. | Godofredo A. V\u00e1squez, Associated Press California could elect a Republican governor<\/p>\n
Five other Democrats drew support in the single digits, largely 5% or lower. That includes former Speaker of the California State Assembly Antonio Villaraigosa, former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra, former California State Controller Betty Yee, San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, and California State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond. <\/p>\n
Mahan, the mayor of San Jose, who represents a more moderate Democratic standpoint similar to Swalwell\u2019s, is trailing in polls but has benefited from a fundraising boost after the Swalwell news broke, as Henry Olsen, a senior fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center, wrote for The Washington Post<\/a>. <\/p>\n More progressive candidates like Steyer and Porter may struggle to gain broad support from the Democratic Party, he noted. <\/p>\n Where Steyer\u2019s activist background and investments weigh him down, for Porter, it\u2019s her \u201cheavy political baggage,\u201d noting her appearance on CBS News where she cut the interview short over too many follow-ups from a reporter. <\/p>\n \u201cIn California, both major parties\u2019 candidates appear on the same ballot, with the top two vote-getters advancing to the general election,\u201d writes Olsen.<\/p>\n \u201cDemocrats have been sounding alarm bells that their big, divided field could pave the way for two Republicans \u2014 Trump-endorsed Steve Hilton and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco \u2014 to finish first and second.\u201d<\/p>\n President Donald Trump endorsed Hilton on April 5 \u2014 despite concerns from political analysts on both sides of the aisle that this move could damage the likelihood of a two-Republican ticket, as the Deseret News previously reported<\/a>. <\/p>\n Is Swalwell still on the ballot?<\/p>\n Swalwell dropped out of the race after the formal deadline to withdraw, meaning his name will still appear on the June 2 primary election ballots due to the timing of his exit from the race, adding to the confusion, CalMatters<\/a> reported<\/a>. <\/p>\n It also complicates matters for California\u2019s labor groups, who had endorsed him and must now quickly reassess. <\/p>\n But the likes of the Service Employees International Union and California Teachers Association may not have time to go through the internal processes to pick another candidate. <\/p>\n And other heavyweights in Democratic politics that had endorsed Swalwell and then withdrew their support may not have time to go back to the drawing board to pick a new candidate.<\/p>\n \u201cMost people look to labor for guidance, especially on the Democratic side,\u201d political strategist Marva Diaz, who primarily works with Democrats but is not involved in any of the ongoing gubernatorial campaigns, told CalMatters<\/a>. <\/p>\n \u201cWhen labor organizations are not working in tandem, it causes a lot of confusion.\u201d<\/p>\n Will Newsom endorse someone in the California governor\u2019s race?<\/p>\n The special election to fill Swalwell\u2019s seat is scheduled for Aug. 18, as Newsom announced in a proclamation.<\/p>\n His decision comes two days after Swalwell announced his plans to resign from Congress. <\/p>\n \u201cI am deeply sorry to my family, staff, and constituents for mistakes in judgment I\u2019ve made in my past. I will fight the serious, false allegations made against me,\u201d Swalwell said<\/a> in a post on social media. <\/p>\n Newsom faces growing pressure to intervene in the chaotic gubernatorial race, especially amid the possibility that two GOP candidates have a chance to advance in the upcoming primary. <\/p>\n