Xavier Becerra’s lead over Steve Hilton has narrowed to 5.6 percentage points in a new post-debate poll, with nearly one in seven California voters still undecided.
The California governor’s race has tightened sharply following the candidates’ first debate. Democrat Xavier Becerra leads Republican Steve Hilton, 45.7% to 40.1%, according to a new survey conducted immediately after the Oct. 1 event.
The poll was commissioned by Hilton’s campaign and conducted by pollster David Wolfson on Oct. 1-2. It surveyed 1,020 California voters and found that 14.1% remained undecided.
The result represents a substantial change from an earlier Hilton-commissioned poll, previously reported by the Post, that showed Becerra leading 52% to 37%.
Becerra’s once-commanding 15-point advantage has now fallen to fewer than six points.
Becerra’s support declined by 6.3 percentage points compared with the earlier survey, while Hilton’s increased by 3.1 points. Together, those changes produced a 9.4-point shift in the margin.
With 14.1% of voters yet to make a choice, the contest remains firmly in play.
The Wolfson survey also points to widespread dissatisfaction with California’s direction.
Nearly six in 10 voters, or 58.8%, said the state was moving in the wrong direction. Just 28.1% said California was headed the right way, while 13.1% were unsure.
The negative outlook could benefit Hilton, who has centered his campaign on frustration over California’s high costs and the policies of Democratic leaders.
Even so, Becerra maintains a clear edge among voters who have decided how they will vote.
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Among respondents who were undecided, 72.5% said they leaned toward Becerra when asked to choose, compared with 27.5% who leaned toward Hilton.
The survey also indicated that neither candidate enjoys especially strong favorability ratings.
Becerra was viewed favorably by 44.1% of voters and unfavorably by 45.3%. Hilton’s ratings were weaker, with 35.5% holding a favorable view and 50.7% viewing him unfavorably.
The poll was conducted after the candidates’ closely watched Oct. 1 debate.
About 11.2% of respondents said they watched all or nearly all of the CNN debate, while another 9.5% watched part of it.
Almost 20% said they viewed clips or highlights online or in the news, and 19.9% followed coverage of the debate without watching it themselves.
The findings differ significantly from several other recent public polls, which have shown Becerra with a considerably wider lead.
The survey was released as Hilton accused Becerra of lying about his immigrant background.
“Unlike Becerra (because I’ve been out there listening to the people), I know Becerra’s policies have destroyed the California Dream. My plans will restore it,” Hilton wrote on X.
“Unlike Xavier Becerra, I am an immigrant. Unlike Xavier Becerra, my father was an immigrant. My stepfather, too. My whole family,” he added.
Becerra has previously said his parents moved to the U.S. as immigrants.
The Post has reached out to the Becerra camp for further comment.
