Hilton narrows gap but still trails Becerra in California governor polls

A new PPIC poll of 1,098 likely voters conducted Sep 4-10 gave Xavier Becerra 60% support and Steve Hilton 38%, widening the gap by two points from the previous PPIC poll. Other independent surveys, including a UC-Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies poll and earlier PPIC polls, have shown Becerra leading by 18 to 25 points. The only poll without a double-digit margin was commissioned by Hilton’s campaign, which placed Becerra at 49.2% and Hilton at 41% among registered voters.

Prediction markets still assign Becerra a roughly 96% chance of winning. Affordability remains a top issue for voters, with a majority rating it very important. The race pits Becerra, a former HHS secretary, against Hilton, a former one outlet host endorsed by Donald Trump, in a state that has not elected a Republican governor since Arnold Schwarzenegger.