Former California prosecutor Xavier Becerra took the lead in the preferences for the California gubernatorial election, according to the Inner California Politics/Emerson College survey released this Wednesday, May 13.
With less than three weeks until the California primaries, Democrat Becerra received 19% supportenough to surpass Republican Steve Hilton, who fell to second place with 17.1% of the preferences.
Hilton had been ahead in previous polls, but the race made a change since the departure of former Bay Area Democratic Congressman Eric Swalwell a month ago.
Keep reading: Housing, fires and insurance crisis dominate the latest debate for California governor
Following Swalwell’s resignation, Becerra’s campaign gained momentum that has positioned him at the forefront of the candidates to take the position currently held by Gavin Newsom, who has been in office for two terms.
Hilton, a former Fox News commentator, publicly received support from President Donald Trump, represents the best Republican contender for the election.
Democratic activist Tom Steyer, who in several polls was very close to Becerra, In the survey published this Wednesday it was in third place, with 16.6% of the preferencesahead of Republican Chad Bianco, who has fallen to fourth place, with 10.7%.
Keep reading: Taxes on millionaires, immigration and Trump mark the contest of the last debate in California
A few weeks ago, Hilton and Bianco led the pollswhich worried the Democratic side about the possibility that the two Republican candidates could be the only ones on the ballot for the November general election.
In the poll, behind Riverside County Sheriff Bianco, Democrat Katie Porter is there, with 10.3%.
The results of the survey They placed the mayor of San José, Matt Mahan, in sixth place, with 7.9%escorted by the former mayor of Los Angeles, Antonio Villaraigosa, with 4%, and the superintendent of California, Tony Thurmond, who does not rise in preferences by obtaining 1% support.
Keep reading: Xavier Becerra ties with Steve Hilton in preferences for governor of California
Drop in undecided voters
This Wednesday’s Inner California Politics/Emerson College poll reflected a significant decline in the number of undecided voterswith 12.1%, compared to 23% in the previous survey.
1.1% of voters surveyed said they would support “someone else” in the California primary on June 2.
The survey also identified the economy as the most important issue for Golden State voterswith 42% of likely voters mentioning it as their biggest concern.
Keep reading: California primaries define the state’s political future
Other issues that concern active voters are housing affordability, with 21%ahead of threats to democracy, with 8.5%.
Trump and Newsom divide opinions among voters
The poll published this Wednesday showed the divided opinions that California voters have on the administrations of President Donald Trump and Governor Gavin Newsom.
Among the voters surveyed, 67.6% said they disapprove of Trump’s management in the White Housewhile 27.5% approve, with 4.5% of voters without an opinion on the matter.
Keep reading: Los Angeles community leaders support Xavier Becerra in the face of Steyer’s attacks
For the acting governor, the result of the survey indicated that 43.4% approved of Newsom’s performancewhile 40.4% disapproved. 16.2% remained fair or did not have a defined opinion.
Poll Demographics
Among the voters who were consulted for the survey published this Wednesday, 50.2% identified as Democrats26.2% as Republican and 23% as independent.
By gender, forty eight.3% of respondents identified as male, 50.9% as female and 0.8% as non-binary or with another gender identity.
Keep reading: Six California gubernatorial candidates debate key policies
The primaries are scheduled for June 2and according to their results, the two candidates who receive the highest number of votes will advance to the November general elections, in the race to become the next governor of California.
Keep reading:
· Nine candidates for governor of California, face to face in debate
· Antonio Villaraigosa’s options in the electoral campaign
· Two Republicans and one Democrat lead poll for California governor
