Becerra Leads Hilton by 18 Points in California Governor Race Poll

Former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra holds a commanding lead over Republican businessman Steve Hilton in the race for California governor, according to a new poll from the UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies. The survey, released on August 13, 2026, shows Becerra with the support of 55% of likely voters, compared to 37% for Hilton, with 7% undecided. The 18-point margin indicates a stark shift from the crowded and unsettled primary contest earlier in the year.

The poll, conducted online from August 3 to August 9 among 2,310 likely voters, reveals that support for each candidate is overwhelmingly driven by partisan affiliation. Among Democrats, 88% back Becerra, while 91% of Republicans support Hilton. Crucially, Becerra also leads among voters with no party preference, 58% to 30%, a demographic that is critical for any Republican hoping to compete in the state. "It's shaping up to be a pretty traditional Democrat versus Republican general election matchup with strong partisan preferences kind of dominating everything," said poll director Mark DiCamillo.

The candidates are vying to replace Governor Gavin Newsom, who is barred from running again....