Becerra Surges Into Second Place as California Governor’s Race Tightens

In the aftermath of Eric Swalwell’s controversy-filled exit from the California governor’s race, a new poll shows Xavier Becerra has surged in popularity, gaining a whopping 11 points, tying billionaire Democrat Tom Steyer for second place.

Jumping from just 4% in early April to now 15%, Becerra is in second place, even with Tom Steyer. Republican Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco trails the pair by one point, and Democrat Rep. Katie Porter is a point behind Bianco.

Republican Steve Hilton remains in the lead for California governor, with 20% of the vote. However, this is two points down from the beginning of April. 

Since 2010, California has operated under a top-two primary system, meaning the two highest-polling candidates, regardless of party, advance to the general election. The latest results suggest Hilton is well-positioned to secure a runoff spot, while the battle for second place remains highly competitive among Steyer, Becerra, Bianco, and Porter.

In a previous interview with The Daily Signal, Klink Campaigns President Matt Klink said Xavier Becerra and San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan “have a better case to pull in some of the Swalwell voters than the presumed frontrunners,” arguing that Steyer and Porter “have some baggage that they have to deal with.”

While Becerra may face fewer political liabilities than some rivals, he has drawn criticism from both the Left and Right over his record on abortion policy and his tenure as President Joe Biden’s Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services during the COVID-19 pandemic.

As California’s attorney general in 2017, Becerra filed felony charges related to an undercover investigation of Planned Parenthood, a move that the Los Angeles Times editorial board described as a “disturbing overreach.” In 2020, he also defended a California law requiring certain health plans, including those associated with religious organizations, to cover abortion services—a policy later found by the federal Office for Civil Rights to conflict with federal law.

During his time leading HHS, Becerra faced criticism over his management style. According to a report from The New York Times, senior Biden administration officials said Becerra took “too passive a role” in the pandemic. A report by Politico stated an unnamed senior administration official said Becerra was “out of his depth” when it came to handling public health crises.

But polls seem to show that many of Swalwell’s previous voters have chosen Xavier Becerra as their alternative. 

This survey was conducted April 14-18 by Gudelunas Strategies and obtained by Politico. It was commissioned by California is Not For Sale, a committee opposed to Tom Steyer’s gubernatorial campaign. 

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