A new poll shows California gubernatorial Democratic candidate Xavier Becerra continues to hold a wide margin over his Republican rival, Steve Hilton.
Becerra — the former California attorney general who most recently served as U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services in the Biden administration — garners support from 55% of likely voters, while Hilton — a former Fox News host and U.K. political strategist — holds 38%, according to an Oct. 9 poll from Manhattan Institute. Meanwhile, 7% of voters remain undecided.
The 17-point lead matches other recent polls showing Becerra ahead by double digits. An Oct. 5 Independent Voter Project survey found Becerra had a 10-point advantage, while a UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies polland a separate
Public Policy Institute of California poll released in September both found the Democrat leading by more than 20 points.
The Manhattan Institute poll shows voters largely support the candidate from their political party, with Becerra holding the support of 93% of Democrats and Hilton 96% of Republicans. Independents and other unaffiliated voters tend to favor Becerra over Hilton, 48% to 39%.
Becerra performs particularly well among young voters, 65% compared to Hilton’s 30%; women (59% to 33%), black voters (72% to 22%), and college-educated Californians (63% to 31%).
Meanwhile, Hilton performs best among men (43% support), non-college voters (43%), and independents and other unaffiliated voters (39%). However, pollsters said, “he still trails Becerra among each of those groups.”
When the 7% of undecided voters were pressed to make a choice, Becerra gained two percentage points and Hilton 1, leaving 3% of voters without a concrete gubernatorial pick.
“With so few voters still undecided, the electorate appears firmly settled behind the Democratic nominee,” pollsters said.
In addition to the governor’s race, the poll, which surveyed 1,000 likely California voters between Sept. 24 and Oct. 1, also asked voters specifically about the state’s proposed wealth tax and their sentiments toward the direction of the Golden State.
Here’s a closer look at the poll, which had a margin of error ±3.1 percentage points.
Voters oppose state’s proposed wealth tax
Proposition 40, a one-time 5% tax on the wealth of California billionaires, is one of the 14 ballot measures voters will decide in the upcoming general election.
A Manhattan Institute poll found that likely voters oppose the measure by 15 points (50% to 35%), while 15% remain undecided.
The starkest divide is generational, according to pollsters.
"Voters aged 18 to 29 support the measure at substantially higher rates (50%) than voters aged 50 to 64 (28%) and those 65 and older (28%),” pollsters wrote.
The measure also divides voters along partisan lines, with Republicans overwhelmingly opposing it (83% to 10%) and Democrats supporting it (50% to 31%). Meanwhile, independents and other unaffiliated voters oppose the initiative by 17 points (51% to 34%).
When assessing voters' support for Proposition 40 by gubernatorial pick, pollsters found that Becerra supporters back the measure (52% in favor, 28% opposed), while Hilton supporters oppose it (82% to 10%).
Both gubernatorial candidates have said they oppose the measure.
Voters believe the state is headed in a poor direction
“Californians are more pessimistic than optimistic about their state’s trajectory,” pollsters said.
When asked whether California was headed in a better direction than other states, 32% agreed, and 45% disagreed. Eighteen percent of voters said the Golden State is headed in about the same direction as other states.
A voter’s assessment of the state’s direction sharply divided down party lines, pollsters found.
Democrats were more likely to say the state is headed in a better direction (52% to 17%). In stark contrast, Republicans largely see the state headed in a worse direction (88% to 3%). Independents and other unaffiliated voters also say the state is headed in a worse direction by a 23-point margin.
When is California’s general election?
California's general election will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 3.
According to state officials, the last day to register to vote for California’s general election is Oct. 19.
Registered voters began receiving their general election ballots by mail in early October.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Becerra maintains wide lead over Hilton in California governor poll
