Becerra, Hilton Tie as California Governor Race Turns Testy
Wednesday, May 6, 2026 · 11 min
A new Democratic Party poll puts Xavier Becerra and Steve Hilton atop a still-fractured governor’s race, just as CNN’s debate turned sharp with mail voting already underway.
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A new Democratic Party poll puts Xavier Becerra and Steve Hilton atop a still-fractured governor’s race, just as CNN’s debate turned sharp with mail voting already underway.
In this episode
- Becerra Tied With Hilton for Lead in California Governor's Race: Poll — GV Wire
Becerra Tied With Hilton for Lead in California Governor's Race: Poll - GV Wire Becerra Tied With Hilton for Lead in California Governor's Race: Poll By Bill McEwen, News Director Published 2 minutes ago on May 5, 2026 more from Bill McEwen ## A poll commissioned by the California Democratic Party shows Xavier Becerra, right, with 18% support in the race to succeed Gov. Gavin Newsom heading into…
“Lol if it's Hilton v. Steyer I'm gonna laugh I would really prefer Becerra v. Steyer because we'd get some actual discussion about where California is going to go. If it's Hilton v. Steyer it'll be even more bad faith attack ads on Steyer to wade through. Plus we'll have to…” — r/California (315 upvotes)
Our take: We get the dread of a Hilton-Steyer runoff becoming wall-to-wall attack ads; that matchup practically writes the oppo mailers itself. A Becerra-Steyer race would probably force more governing questions, though California campaigns have a way of making even policy fights feel like a tire fire.
“Looks like we don't need to worry about two Republicans. As long as that doesn't happen I'm not too concerned, but I do prefer Steyer.” — r/California (353 upvotes)
Our take: That is the top-two math everyone in Democratic circles is watching: one Democrat near the top lowers the nightmare scenario of two Republicans sneaking through. But with this many candidates clustered below 20 percent, nobody should be sleeping comfortably yet.
“DNC doing it again. They are just picking who THEY want. No one wants Becerra.” — r/California (241 upvotes)
Our take: We’d separate two things here: yes, Becerra is the establishment Democrat in the field, but a poll showing him at 18 percent is not the party simply crowning him. It does, however, show how quickly name ID and insider credibility can matter once voters finally tune in.
- Candidates for California governor tangle in testy debate with mail voting already underway - ABC News — ABC News
Candidates for California governor tangle in testy debate with mail voting already underway - ABC News # Candidates for California governor tangle in testy debate with mail voting already underway Seven candidates who want to be California's next governor have engaged in sharp attacks on each other on issues from gas prices to taxes to immigration ByMICHAEL R. BLOOD Associated Press and SOPHIE…
“The Steyer push on Reddit is insane. How is no one seeing he’s a wolf in sheep clothing? He immediately got chummy with Bianco after the debate. Are you all blind???” — r/California (105 upvotes)
Our take: We’d be careful reading too much into a post-debate chummy moment; politicians can smile for cameras and still knife each other by breakfast. The deeper skepticism about Steyer is fair, though: a billionaire running against billionaire politics is always going to invite an eyebrow raise.
“Him and Porter are the only options imo. Fuck the tech bro, fuck PG&Es buddy.” — r/California (412 upvotes)
Our take: The Reddit shorthand is savage, but it captures a real split: some voters see Porter and Steyer as the only candidates speaking their economic language. Still, reducing the rest of the field to nicknames can skip over the actual records voters need to judge.
“Hopefully if he wins, he truly does. I'm not holding my breath though. His entire campaign is a lot like Trump's. He says things he thinks will get him votes with no real plan to do it. The fact he's spent 300-400m on this campaign is also worrying.” — r/California (176 upvotes)
Our take: The concern about self-funded promise politics is legitimate: if you can spend your way onto every screen, you still owe voters a plan that survives first contact with Sacramento. The Trump comparison is loaded, but the question underneath it — message versus machinery — is the right one.
- Follow Money: CA Governor’s Race 2026 — Fullerton Observer
Follow Money: CA Governor’s Race 2026 - Fullerton Observer # Follow Money: CA Governor’s Race 2026 By on May 5, 2026• (Leave a comment) The California Primary takes place June 2 and includes 61 Candidates vying to become governor. The top two vote getters will move on to the general election in November (unless, in an unlikely instance, one candidate captures 51% of the vote). Tune in to the…
“Pretty sure the only reason Mahan hasn't dropped is because his tech backers are hoping he eats enough of the primary vote from Steyer and Becerra that two Republicans sneak through.” — r/California (190 upvotes)
Our take: That’s a spicy theory, and the top-two system makes people reach for chessboard explanations. But Mahan’s tech backers may simply believe their lane exists; not every underdog campaign is a false-flag operation, even in California.
“Him and Porter are the only options imo. Fuck the tech bro, fuck PG&Es buddy.” — r/California (412 upvotes)
Our take: We hear the frustration with tech money and utility politics, especially in a race drowning in donor cues. But if Porter and Steyer are the preferred options, voters still have to ask how each would actually move housing, energy and budget policy through the Capitol.
“The Steyer push on Reddit is insane. How is no one seeing he’s a wolf in sheep clothing? He immediately got chummy with Bianco after the debate. Are you all blind???” — r/California (105 upvotes)
Our take: Calling Steyer a wolf in sheep’s clothing is the kind of line that sticks because it hits his core vulnerability: wealth plus anti-wealth messaging. The Bianco aside feels thin by itself, but the broader trust issue is not going away.
- Q&A: Katie Porter, California governor candidate – San Diego Union-Tribune — San Diego Union-Tribune
Q&A: Katie Porter, California governor candidate – San Diego Union-Tribune Katie Porter is a candidate to California governor on the June 2, primary election. Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... 1. What do you say to the millions of Californians who polls show are unhappy about the higher cost of living and their perception that quality of life has been declining in their…
- Tom Steyer wins endorsement from former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown — San Francisco Chronicle
Ex-S.F. mayor endorses Tom Steyer for California governor San Francisco Chronicle LogoHearst Newspapers Logo Skip to main content JUST IN 4m ago Tom Steyer wins endorsement from former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown 4m ago # Tom Steyer wins endorsement from former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown ## The former San Francisco mayor’s support gives Steyer a marquee Bay Area endorsement weeks…