In a surprising turn of events, Steve Hilton, a Republican, has surged ahead in the race for California governor, as indicated by a recent poll.
The Fox News contributor, known for his vocal opposition to current Governor Gavin Newsom, has captured 17% of the support in a field filled with contenders, according to findings from an Emerson College Polling and Inside California Politics survey.
Currently tied for second place with 14% each are Democratic Representative Eric Swalwell and Republican candidate Sheriff Chad Bianco. Trailing them is former Representative Katie Porter with 10%, while billionaire Tom Steyer lags slightly behind her.
Notably, 21% of voters remain undecided, a notable decrease of 10 points since the previous poll conducted in December. During this period, Hilton has increased his support by 5 points.
“The Republican vote in California is divided between Steve Hilton, who commands 38%, and Chad Bianco with 37%. Additionally, Hilton garners significant backing from independent voters, with 22% support,” explained Spencer Kimball, the executive director of Emerson College Polling.
Meanwhile, San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, who entered the race last, is struggling to gain traction, receiving just 3.4% support, placing him near the bottom in the 12-candidate lineup.
“Democratic voters have not yet clearly coalesced around one candidate,” Kimball added.
The survey of 1,000 likely voters was conducted from Feb. 13 to 14 and carries a margin of error of 3 percentage points.
The last time a Republican was elected governor in the Golden State was 2006, when Arnold Schwarzenegger won re-election to a second term. Since then, critics have described the state capital Sacramento as a “one-party” political system.
The primary for the gubernatorial race is slated for June 2. The two candidates who receive the highest vote totals, regardless of party, will advance to the Nov. 5 general election to replace Newsom at the end of his term.
Hilton has raised the most campaign donations by far, with nearly $6 million — with the exception of billionaire Steyer, who is funding his own campaign.
He has opposed the proposed billionaire tax, the proposed mileage tax, and criticized the handling of the Palisades fire by Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and Newsom.
According to the poll, the top two issues facing California are housing affordability and the economy, with a majority (53%) of voters saying they have considered leaving the state because of the cost of living.
