A breaking Emerson College poll shows Republican commentator Steve Hilton leading California’s 2026 gubernatorial race, a surprising result in the deep-blue state. Katie Porter, a Democrat now running for California Governor, is floundering, giving Hilton an opening to flip the state.
For context, Hilton, who is well known for sharp critiques of state leadership, is beating out all major Democrats, including former Rep. Katie Porter, whose campaign has faltered following a widely criticized outburst during a CBS interview that completely embarrassed her.
According to this poll, Democratic candidate besides Porter reaches double digits, while Hilton’s lead falls within the poll’s 3% margin of error. However, Democratic voters seem unhappy, despite the 57% backing Gov. Gavin Newsom’s controversial plan to gerrymander congressional maps in Democrats’ favor. Newsom’s approval rating is at 48% which is underwhelming for an incumbent not seeking re-election.
Some have speculated that other, better Democratic candidates, such as low-profile Sen. Alex Padilla, could enter the race. In any case, this poll underscores the central opening for Republicans in California, driven by frustration with one-party dominance, high living costs, and leadership failures. Though Democrats still hold a collective advantage, Hilton’s surge signals potential for a competitive 2026 contest.
In one of a series of debilitating scandals, a video of Katie Porter screaming at a staffer was leaked. “Get out of my F—KING shot!… Stay out of my shot… You also were in my shot before that. Stay out of my shot,” the candidate said. Many were disturbed by this outburst and wondered if it was indicative of her true character.
In a desperate attempt to run damage control after this video was leaked, the embattled Democrat said, “It’s no secret I hold myself and my staff to a high standard, and that was especially true as a member of Congress… I have sought to be more intentional in showing gratitude to my staff for their important work.”
In another easily avoidable gaffe, Porter bombed an interview with CBS reporter Julie Watts. Starting off with what should have been an easy question, the reporter asked, “What do you say to the 40 percent of California voters — who you’ll need in order to win — who voted for Trump?”
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Losing her mind over a softball question, the entitled Democrat said, “How would I need them in order to win, ma’am?… I don’t intend for that to be the case… I don’t want to keep doing this. … Not like this, I’m not. Not with seven follow-ups to every single question you ask. I don’t want to have an unhappy experience with you, and I don’t want this all on camera.”
Reacting to this bizarre and embarrassing situation, a Republican commentator blasted Porter. “We need a governor who will work to solve hard problems and who is not afraid to answer simple questions. No candidate for Governor should hide from the press or mistreat them — we owe it to the public to be transparent,” the insightful commentator noted.