SACRAMENTO\u00a0\u2014\u00a0As Californians prepare to elect a new governor in November, the concern they want to be his top priority is reducing the state\u2019s entrenched high cost of living, according to a poll by the UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies and co-sponsored by the Los Angeles Times.<\/p>\n
Not too far behind that is strong voter support for fighting the policies of the Trump administration. That may be among the many reasons 58% of likely voters surveyed support Democrat Xavier Becerra in the governor\u2019s race compared to the 33% who back Republican Steve Hilton, whom the president endorsed.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese results suggest that Becerra is in a commanding position heading to November,\u201d said IGS co-director Eric Schickler. \u201cWith 2026 shaping up to be a strong Democratic year nationally, the headwinds facing Hilton in Democratic-leaning California are even stronger than usual.\u201d<\/p>\n
The poll found that Becerra\u2019s lead over Hilton had increased slightly since an August IGS poll<\/a>, and the Democrat now holds a 25-percentage-point advantage.<\/p>\n Despite an effort to reach out to Democrats and independent voters <\/a>and making California\u2019s high housing costs, top-in-the-nation gasoline prices<\/a> and other increasing daily living expenses a central focus of his campaign, Hilton is struggling to gain ground in the race to replace Gov. Gavin Newsom, the poll found.<\/p>\n \u201cThe difficult thing is that Steve Hilton\u2019s a Republican in California,\u201d said Tim Rosales, a Republican strategist who previously advised GOP gubernatorial candidate John Cox in the 2018 race against Newsom. \u201cOn the scale of what\u2019s more important to voters, the cost of living certainly is there, but those Democrats really aren\u2019t willing to cast a vote or cross party lines to vote for a Republican.\u201d<\/p>\n Asked to name one or two of their top concerns heading into the Nov. 3 election, 44% of likely voters cited the cost of living, 37% said it was important to push back against policies from the Trump administration and 30% said they wanted to help their political party win or maintain control of Congress.<\/p>\n \u201cThe November elections are being held at a time when the economic backdrop is worsening not only in California but across the nation, as prices are rising on most major household purchases, including groceries, gasoline, electricity and healthcare,\u201d said IGS poll director Mark DiCamillo. \u201cPocketbook issues have traditionally played a big role in election politics and this year is no exception.\u201d<\/p>\n Democrats, who make up nearly half of California\u2019s 23 million registered voters<\/a>, \u201cunderstand the cost of living, and they feel it. They just feel like they need a new Democrat to deal with it,\u201d Rosales said.<\/p>\n \u201cIndependent voters are a little bit different. They aren\u2019t partisan but they are ideological and there is some opportunity there.\u201d But Hilton would \u201cneed a whole lot of them in California in order to have a chance on a statewide level,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n More than half of likely voters not registered with either the Democratic or Republican parties \u2014 most of whom declare themselves as \u201cno party preference\u201d \u2014 said they supported Becerra in the governor\u2019s race, while 30% favored Hilton. The remaining 14% were undecided.<\/p>\n Hilton has made a slew of campaign promises to lower the cost of living, including $3 gasoline, no taxes on income below $150,000 and lowering energy bills by slashing climate-friendly regulations imposed by Democrats.<\/p>\n Both Rosales and DiCamillo agreed that while voters list affordability as a top issue, Democrats in particular are more motivated by the opportunity to push back on President Trump in the midterm elections.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen you look at the Becerra voters on the issues or concerns that are important to them, it\u2019s really framed by fighting Trump administration policies. I think that\u2019s an indication of what\u2019s happening in this election cycle,\u201d DiCamillo said. \u201cYou\u2019re seeing it across the country as well.\u201d<\/p>\n The poll showed that 59% of Becerra supporters said fighting the Trump administration was a top priority, while 62% of Hilton supporters said reducing taxes was their main concern. More than 60% of undecided voters listed the cost of living as a top item.<\/p>\n Trump, who remains extremely unpopular among most Californians, endorsed Hilton for governor in April. Though the president\u2019s backing helped the former Fox News host consolidate enough Republican support to finish second in the June primary, allowing him to advance to the November election, it may hurt his chance in the general election. A recent Public Policy Institute of California poll showed Trump with a 27% approval <\/a>rating in the state, a record low across both of his terms.<\/p>\n Hilton has tried to court voters, especially Latinos and independents, who dislike Trump but are also dissatisfied with California\u2019s Democratic leadership and its failure to alleviate some of California\u2019s most incessant problems. The British-born Republican has also declined to criticize the president on issues including immigration enforcement or the Iran war.<\/p>\n Becerra\u2019s wide lead is also boosted by his favorability rating \u2014 48% of likely voters have a favorable opinion of him while 40% view him unfavorably and 11% have no opinion. Hilton\u2019s rating is underwater; 51% of likely voters have an unfavorable opinion compared to 35% favorable and 13% with no opinion.<\/p>\n