Issues raised in final California gubernatorial debate highlighted
TODAY California reporter Noe Padilla recaps Thursday’s final California gubernatorial debate, highlighting the key issues debated and the candidates’ positions.
Two new California gubernatorial polls show the June primary is volatile with just a week left until Election Day.
According to an Echelon Insights poll released on Friday, May 22, the poll’s sponsor, Republican Steve Hilton, leads the race with 25% of likely voters. In California’s nonpartisan primary, the top two vote-getters, regardless of party affiliation, advance to the November general election.
“Our lead is widening,” Hilton wrote in a post on X. “Now is the time to come together and finish as the strongest Republican!”
Democrats Tom Steyer and Xavier Becerra follow with 18% and 15%, respectively. The poll, conducted from May 18 to May 21, shows Republican candidate Chad Bianco trailing with 12 percent.
A separate Global Strategy Group poll sponsored by Steyer’s campaign and released the same day found Hilton leading among likely voters (22%).
Steyer and Becerra are close behind with a tie at 19%. Meanwhile, Mr. Bianco received 12% of the vote.
“With Republican candidate Chad Bianco failing to gain support, there is a clear three-way race between Hilton, Steyer and Becerra for the top two spots in November,” pollsters said of the survey’s key findings.
Katie Porter and Matt Mahan each have an approval rating of 8%, while Antonio Villaraigosa and Tony Thurmond each have an approval rating of less than 2%.
Seven percent of voters remain undecided.
The Global Strategy Group poll surveyed 1,050 likely voters between May 18 and May 21, and had a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points.
Who is running for Governor of California?
The top gubernatorial candidates are:
Other notable Democratic candidates include Matt Mahan, former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, and Tony Thurmond. Voters will see 61 gubernatorial candidates on the primary ballot. A list of candidates and their titles can be found here.
What’s next after the June primary?
County election officials had set a deadline of Monday, May 4, to send mail-in ballots to registered voters. Ballot drop boxes opened the next day.
The deadline to register to vote in the June primary has passed, but Californians can choose same-day voter registration, also known as conditional voter registration.
On Saturday, May 23, Voter Choice Act County Vote Centers opened for early voting.
Primary election day is Tuesday, June 2nd. Voting hours are from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
When is the gubernatorial election?
Voters will choose the Golden State’s next governor in California’s general election on Tuesday, November 3rd.
Contributed by Terry Collins.
