Democrats are consolidating around former Health Secretary Xavier Becerra and billionaire philanthropist Tom Steyer in the California governor’s race as Republicans rally behind former Fox News host Steve Hilton, a new independent poll shows.
The Emerson College poll, which surveyed 1,000 likely primary voters May 9-10, is the latest survey that signals a tightening of the race just weeks before the June 2 primary.
“The front-runners are established,” GOP consultant Mike Madrid said. “Now the question is what can happen to change those dynamics, if anything? It would take a Swalwell-type of explosion to change the trajectory of the race.”
Ex-Rep. Eric Swalwell was leading in the race to succeed Gov. Gavin Newsom but dropped out last month following sexual misconduct allegations, which he denies, and resigned his seat in Congress.
Former Health Secretary Xavier Becerra seems to have benefited the most from Swalwell’s exit. Emerson College’s March survey had him toward the back of the pack with 3% support, compared with the latest poll that showed him topping the leaderboard with 19% support.
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