CA governor's race is tight in lead-up to June primary, polls find

Two new California gubernatorial polls indicate a volatile June primary with just one week left until Election Day. 

An Echelon Insights survey released Friday, May 22, shows Republican Steve Hilton – the poll's sponsor – leading the field with 25% of likely voters in the race. In California's nonpartisan primary, the top two vote-getters, regardless of party affiliation, advance to the general election in November. 

“Our lead is growing,” Hilton wrote in a post on X. “Now’s the time to come together and deliver the strongest Republican finish!” 

Democrats Tom Steyer and Xavier Becerra follow, capturing 18% and 15%, respectively. Republican candidate Chad Bianco trails with 12% in the poll, conducted between May 18 and May 21.

In a separate Global Strategy Group poll sponsored by Steyer’s campaign and released the same day, Hilton leads (22%) among likely voters. 

Steyer and Becerra are close behind, tied at 19%. Meanwhile, Bianco holds 12% of voters.  

“With Republican candidate Chad Bianco failing to gain traction, there is now a clear three-person race between Hilton, Steyer, and Becerra for the top two spots for the November election,” pollsters said of the survey’s key findings. 

Other Democratic candidates trail: Katie Porter and Matt Mahan are each polling at 8%, while Antonio Villaraigosa and Tony Thurmond each have 2% or less support. 

Seven percent of voters remain undecided.  

The Global Strategy Group poll, which sampled 1,050 likely voters between May 18 and May 21, had a margin of error of ±3.5 percentage points.  

Who’s running for California governor? 

The top gubernatorial candidates include:

• Chad Bianco: (Republican): Riverside County sheriff since 2018 (USA TODAY Network profile)
• Steve Hilton: (Republican): Fox News contributor and small business owner (USA TODAY Network profile)
• Katie Porter (Democrat): U.S. representative between 2019 and 2025 and consumer protection advocate (USA TODAY Network profile)
• Tom Steyer (Democrat): Climate advocate  (USA TODAY Network profile)
• Xavier Becerra (Democrat): Attorney, who served as the 25th United States Secretary of Health and Human Services (USA TODAY Network profile)

Other notable Democratic candidates include Matt Mahan, former LA mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, and Tony Thurmond. Voters will see 61 gubernatorial candidates on their primary ballots. A list of candidates and their titles can be found here. 

What's next for June primary?

County election officials had a deadline of Monday, May 4, to send vote-by-mail ballots to registered voters. Ballot drop-off locations opened the following day.

Though the deadline to register to vote in the June primary has passed, Californians can still opt for same-day voter registration, also known as conditional voter registration.

Voting centers opened for Voter's Choice Act counties for early in-person voting on Saturday, May 23.

Primary Election Day is Tuesday, June 2. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

When is the governor's race?

Voters will choose the Golden State's next governor during California’s general election on Tuesday, Nov. 3.

Terry Collins contributed.