Polling shows Hilton may take on Becerra for governor

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Editor's note: This is the part of a series of stories that are appearing this week on the June 2 primary election in California.

(The Center Square) – New polling shows this November's race for governor of California may come down to Republican Steve Hilton vs. Democrat Xavier Becerra.

The latest California Voter Opinion, Trend & Engagement Research (VOTER) Index, a 1,200-sample tracking poll conducted by EVITARUS Research between May 14 and 16, found Hilton garners 22% support and continues to outpace Republican candidate Chad Bianco’s 10% support. Becerra holds a 21% portion of the vote.

Under California law, the two highest vote getters in the June 2 primary, regardless of party affiliation, will go on to the Nov. 3 general election. The VOTER Index poll says that could be Hilton, a former Fox News host, and Becerra, a former California attorney general and congressman who served as secretary of health and human services during the Biden administration.

California Democratic Party Chair Rusty Hicks noted Becerra continues to consolidate support from Democrats and independents.

“In fact, Becerra currently maintains the broadest coalition of any candidate for governor, with 35% of Democrats, a six-point increase from May 4, and 19% of independents,” Hicks said during a media call Tuesday.

Aside from Democratic candidate Tom Steyer's 15% support, Hicks said no other Democratic candidate, including Katie Porter, Matt Mahan, Antonio Villaraigosa and Tony Thurman, holds more than single-digit support in the two weeks before the primary.

The tracker released on May 4 showed the same results.

Porter is a former U.S. representative who represented part of Orange County in Congress. Mahan is the mayor of San Jose, Villaraigosa is a former mayor of Los Angeles, and Thurman is the California superintendent of public instruction.

During a question-and-answer period with the media, The Center Square asked Hicks about Hilton and Becerra.

“Steve Hilton has wrapped his arms around Donald Trump for the entirety of his career, and now Donald Trump has wrapped his arms around Steve Hilton,” said Hicks. “The policies of Steve Hilton are out of step with where California voters are.”

During debates, in social media posts and on the stump, Hilton has said that Democrats and their policies are the reason why Californians are struggling.

“Californians are done with their mess,” said Hilton in a May 13 post on X. “That’s why we’re taking California back this November.”

Hicks does not see it that way.

“At the end of the day, I don't believe Chad Bianco or Steve Hilton are going to be the next governor of California, and I think the conversation over the course of the next coming months will make that pretty, pretty clear,” said Hicks. “I think Xavier Becerra has done a pretty good job at consolidating significant support amongst both Democrats and independents.”

In their last debate, most of the candidates were critical of Becerra’s position on issues such as single-payer healthcare.

Becerra said he is in favor of single-payer insurance, but candidates, including his fellow Democrats, were not buying it.

“This is what happens when you’re leading in the polls,” said Becerra. “They come after you.”

Becerra's opponents also went after him at times for the federal indictment of his former chief of staff and a political consultant. 

Becerra said he's done nothing wrong. 

"The U.S. attorney said no candidate running for governor has been implicated in this particular matter," said Becerra. 

Hilton was not having it and at one point said Becerra should not be on the stage.

"You should be preparing your criminal defense," said Hilton. 

The primary is June 2. Ballots have been mailed to voters, and early voting centers be open May 23 to June 1 in Voter's Choice Act counties and May 30 to June 1 elsewhere. Polls are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. June 2, Election Day. 

According to Hicks, voters are highly engaged, with 37% saying they have already voted.

“Of those who have not yet voted, nearly all have a plan to do so,” said Hicks.

For more information, go to the Secretary of State's website, sos.ca.gov. Early election results will be published on the evening of June 2 at www.thecentersquare.com/california.