In this New York Post article, California’s wide-open governor’s race appears to be narrowing around Republican Steve Hilton and Democrat Xavier Becerra as the June 2 primary approaches.
- A new California Democratic Party poll shows Hilton leading with 22% and Becerra close behind at 21%, suggesting both are increasingly likely to advance to the November runoff.
- California’s top-two primary system allows the two highest vote-getters to move forward regardless of party, creating serious headaches for Democrats in a crowded field.
- The poll reportedly shows billionaire Democrat Tom Steyer slipping into third place at 16%, putting him outside the runoff if the numbers hold.
- Republican Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco trails farther back, weakening earlier concerns that two Republicans could lock Democrats out of the general election.
- Becerra’s rise is notable because many Democrats had struggled to consolidate support around a single candidate in the race to replace term-limited Gov. Gavin Newsom.
- Hilton’s continued strength shows that a Republican can remain competitive in a deep-blue state when Democrats split their vote across several establishment and celebrity-backed options.
- The race is still volatile, with undecided voters and late movement capable of changing the final top-two lineup before the June 2 primary.
- The broader story is less about California suddenly turning red and more about Democratic disorganization creating an opening that Republicans rarely get statewide.
- If Hilton and Becerra advance, California voters would face a sharp ideological contrast in November rather than the usual Democrat-on-Democrat general election.
Read the full story: https://nypost.com/2026/05/19/us-news/steve-hilton-xavier-becerra-tighten-leads-in-new-calif-governor-poll/
