Becerra Holds Off Steyer as Hilton Tightens California Race
Wednesday, May 20, 2026 · 8 min
California governor’s race polling puts Xavier Becerra ahead despite Tom Steyer’s ad barrage, while Steve Hilton consolidates Republicans around an affordability pitch—tightening the June top-two stakes for Democrats and the GOP’s outsider lane.
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Show notes
California governor’s race polling puts Xavier Becerra ahead despite Tom Steyer’s ad barrage, while Steve Hilton consolidates Republicans around an affordability pitch—tightening the June top-two stakes for Democrats and the GOP’s outsider lane.
In this episode
- Hilton, Becerra in tightening race in final weeks of California governor's campaign - Los Angeles Times — Los Angeles Times
Former Biden Cabinet member Xavier Becerra remains the top Democrat in the California governor’s race despite being targeted by a barrage of negative political ads and enduring sharp attacks from his rival candidates during recent debates, according to a poll released Tuesday by the state Democratic Party. Billionaire Tom Steyer, a Democrat who is shattering self-funding records for statewide…
- Step Back — If Tom Steyer can pour nearly $200 million into his own campaign and still face scrutiny over paid influencers, what guardrails does California actually have around self-funded campaigns and online political advertising?
Background sources
- The Steyer campaign pays influencers. Their posts don't always make that clear — Los Angeles Times
- The Steyer campaign pays influencers. Their posts don't always make that clear - AOL — AOL
- Steyer campaign courts influencers for $10 a video - Sacramento Bee — Sacbee
- Tom Steyer is paying influencers to yap about him. Not all of them are disclosing it on their posts — Jeanne Kuang, Yue Stella Yu, Maya C. Miller
- Adoption Memo to Reg 18401, 18421.3, 18430.1 — FPPC
- Governor Newsom signs bills curbing billionaire influence on elections and protecting elections from interference | Governor of California — Governor of California
- Senate Bill No. 42 — Ca
- Bianco vows to 'dismantle' Newsom budget in outsider bid for California governor — ABC7 San Francisco
Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco vows to 'dismantle' Gavin Newsom budget in outsider bid for governor - ABC7 San Francisco # Bianco vows to 'dismantle' Newsom budget in outsider bid for California governor Later in the interview, Bianco confirmed he would govern extensively through executive action during his first years in office. Wednesday, May 20, 2026 4:50AM MARIN COUNTY, Calif. (KGO) --…
- Governor's Race: Republican Steve Hilton pitches affordability, 'change' to win over non-red voters — Yahoo News
Governor's Race: Republican Steve Hilton pitches affordability, 'change' to win over non-red voters Advertisement Advertisement ## Top Stories: Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton is betting California voters are frustrated enough with the state's high cost of living to vote for change in a deep-blue state. Hilton - a British-born political commentator who previously advised the…