Former Biden Cabinet member Xavier Becerra is still, somehow, the top Democratic Party candidate in the California gubernatorial race, despite being the target of a vicious negative political ad campaign and taking punch after punch from rival candidates during recent debates, according to new polling data released by the California Democratic Party.
Billionaire Tom Steyer, a Democrat who has obliterated self-funding records for statewide office, has been spending fistfuls of cash to bombard television airwaves, the internet, and social media platforms with ads tearing into Becerra’s lengthy public service record. Many of them also take shots at Becerra for accepting big dollar donations from major corporations such as oil giant Chevron.
And yet, it’s not been enough to give Steyer a leg-up over him. The survey found that 21% of likely voters supported Becerra, who previously served in Congress and did a stint as California’s attorney general, while only 15% backed Steyer. Other top Democrats, such as former Orange County Rep. Katie Porter drew in only 7% support. San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan netted 4%, while state Supt. of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa pulled in 1% support.
A report from the Los Angeles Times revealed that Becerra recently stated that he feels he has climbed up the polls because voters are paying closer attention to the race. “They’re really looking closely at who’s out there, and I think I’ve been one of the beneficiaries of folks looking for a place that they can feel comfortable, where they can trust,” Becerra went on to tell reporters after a campaign event in South Los Angeles.
“I think more and more as people look at the candidates, they’re going to start to crystallize behind somebody who won’t need training wheels, as I say, when they get into the governor’s office and can hit the ground running, day one,” he added. Becerra then stated that he believes the reason Steyer’s attacks aren’t working is due to Californians being skeptical of the billionaire.
“He’s spending like no one before, and he’s hitting like no one before, and so far, it hasn’t made a difference,” Becerra explained. “We continue to surge, even after weeks of his barrage of lies and attacks. … California voters are not anxious to have someone who wants to buy the office.” Leading all the candidates in the race was former Fox News host Steve Hilton, a Republican, who the survey found had 22% support of likely voters.
His top GOP challenger, Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, pulled in 10% support. At one point during the race, both Hilton and Bianco were essentially tied, but that all changed when President Donald Trump endorsed Hilton. Hilton stated that the numbers reflect the momentum and energy he’s witnessed on the campaign trail around the Golden State and match his campaign’s internal polling.
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“I’m obviously happy to see I’m at the top,” Hilton stated in an interview. He then went on to repeat warnings that he has previously given to Republican voters, saying that they shouldn’t put so much trust and faith in the polling data that they take a chance and vote for Bianco so they can see two Republicans advance to the November general election. Such a scenario, Hilton explained, could backfire and lead to two Democrats advancing instead.
Under California’s top-two primary system, the candidates who end up in first and second place both go on to the general election, regardless of what party they are affiliated with. “It’s obvious if you look at the math, it’s beyond the point to debate whose position you prefer, whose experience you prefer. There are only two candidates in the race who represent change. Only one of us can make the top two,” Hilton went on to say. “We can’t take that for granted.”
Featured Image: screenshot from embedded video