Republicans Lead in Four California Governor Race Polls
Several candidates are running to replace Governor Gavin Newsom, who is term-limited, in the 2026 midterms.
www.newsweek.comRecent polling for California’s 2026 governor race is showing a highly competitive race with major support gains/declines among specific candidates and a large share of undecided voters.
Latest poll highlights (as reported in recent coverage)
- May 2026 (near/around the June 2 primary): A California Democratic Party-commissioned poll reported Xavier Becerra tied with Steve Hilton at 18% support, with undecided at 14%.[4]
- March 2026: A UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies poll showed Republicans Steve Hilton (17%) and Chad Bianco (16%) leading among likely voters, with the article noting Democrats were fragmented.[2]
- November 2025 / earlier snapshots: Coverage of multiple earlier polls described Republican contenders leading in a multi-candidate primary field, with outcomes depending on how the field consolidates.[1]
Why the race looks “tight” in the polls
- California’s top-two primary system means that if voters split among candidates (especially on one side), two candidates from the same party can advance, so “who leads” can change quickly as candidates exit or endorsements shift.[2]
If you tell me which candidates you care about (e.g., Hilton/Bianco vs Becerra/Porter/others) and whether you want primary polls only or also any general-election matchups, I can summarize the most relevant poll results and trends around those matchups.