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California Governor Primary Tightens as Split Democratic Field Keeps GOP-Only Runoff in Play

Conflicting polls leave both November slots up for grabs under the state's top-two rules.

Overview

  • A CBS/YouGov poll taken April 23–27 found 26% of voters undecided, with Steve Hilton at 16%, Tom Steyer at 15%, Xavier Becerra at 13%, Chad Bianco at 10%, and Katie Porter at 9%.
  • A separate survey by Gudelunas Strategies for California Is Not For Sale showed Becerra narrowly ahead of Hilton and nine points in front of Steyer, highlighting a fluid race.
  • California’s nonpartisan top-two primary advances the two highest vote-getters regardless of party, so a split Democratic vote could send both Republicans, Hilton and Bianco, to November.
  • State Democratic Party chair Rusty Hicks is urging more Democrats to leave the race and says the open primary should be revised and repealed.
  • The ballot lists 61 candidates, Hilton holds the endorsement of President Donald Trump, and leading Democrats Becerra, Steyer, and Porter are competing for the same voters.