{"id":313894,"date":"2026-05-13T16:59:14","date_gmt":"2026-05-13T16:59:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/313894\/"},"modified":"2026-05-13T16:59:14","modified_gmt":"2026-05-13T16:59:14","slug":"new-california-governor-poll-shows-xavier-becerra-surge-to-the-top","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/313894\/","title":{"rendered":"New California governor poll shows Xavier Becerra surge to the top"},"content":{"rendered":"

A Democrat has finally climbed to the top of the California governor\u2019s race, according to a new poll.<\/a> <\/p>\n

Xavier Becerra<\/a> beat out the crowded field in a new Emerson College poll, earning 19% support from voters and besting Republican frontrunner\u00a0Steve Hilton and Democratic billionaire\u00a0Tom Steyer.<\/p>\n

\"XavierCalifornia governor candidate Xavier Becerra beat out the crowded field in a new Emerson College poll. REUTERS<\/p>\n

Hilton\u00a0and Steyer\u00a0both trailed Becerra with 17% support, with Republican Sheriff Chad Bianco at 11% and Democrat Katie Porter at 10%<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cXavier Becerra tops the crowded California primary for the first time in an Emerson poll, his support increased by nine points since mid-April, driven by now being the top choice among Democratic voters at 31%,\u201d said Spencer Kimball, executive director of Emerson College Polling.<\/p>\n

Hilton had been leading the pack since early January.<\/p>\n

\"SevenCandidates for California governor participate in the 2026 California Gubernatorial Debate at the Skirball Cultural Center.<\/p>\n

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Becerra, who has been the beneficiary of\u00a0disgraced former candidate Eric Swalwell\u2019s downfall<\/a>, has gotten support from\u00a0Gov. Gavin Newsom\u2019s inner circle, though the term-limited governor has so far avoided endorsing anyone in the race.<\/p>\n

Becerra had been trailing Steyer, who has poured hundreds of millions of dollars into his campaign. <\/p>\n

The poll comes after Becerra faced criticism over his handling of an interview with KTLA<\/a>, during which he insisted it to be profile piece rather than a hard-hitting conversation. The network later released a candid interaction of Becerra talking down to a female journalist.<\/p>\n

The primary will be held on June 2. Under California\u2019s jungle primary system, the top two vote-getters in June advance to the November general election.<\/p>\n

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