For the first time this year, two Democratic candidates are frontrunners in the race for California governor, surpassing the leading Republicans, Steve Hilton and Chad Bianco, according to a new poll released Saturday morning.
The latest survey was conducted on May 27 and 28.
Becerra edging ahead
Xavier Becerra widened the lead with support from 28% of likely voters in the state, with Tom Steyer in second place with 22%, according to the Emerson College Polling survey.
Republican Steve Hilton was trailing Steyer closely at 21%, distancing further from the GOP competitor Chad Bianco at 12%.
Other Democratic candidates saw their polling numbers ebbing to a single digit: Katie Porter and Matt Mahan at 5%, Antonio Villaraigosa at 2%, Tony Thurmond at 1%.
The latest poll also showed, just four days before the primary election, only about 5% of voters remained undecided.
Close toss-up between Steyer and Hilton
With the polll's margin of error of +/- 3%, Billionaire candidate Steyer and former Fox News host Hilton were in a dead heat.
When undecided voters were asked who they would support, Hilton and Steyer were tied, each receiving 23% of support.
If Riverside Sheriff Bianco falls further behind in the next four days, Hilton will benefit, giving him a path to advance to the November run-off, according to Spencer Kimball, executive director of Emerson College Polling.
Steyer could make further gains if the former presidential candidate can mobilize young voters, according to Kimball.
Crowded field of candidates appearing to narrow down
The latest survey may suggest more California voters made up their minds as the primary election draws closer.
Compared to the poll by UC Berkeley’s Institute of Governmental Studies that was co-sponsored by the Los Angeles Times (conducted between May 19 and 24), Becerra made more gains within several days, potentially taking away support from other Democrats, particularly former Congresswoman Porter.
Porter had 7% of support among likely voters between May 19 and 24, but the latest survey showed that figure dropped down to 5%.
Voters waiting to turn in ballots
The top two vote-getters in the California primary election, regardless of party affiliation, advance to a November runoff election.
Some Californians have already cast ballots. Vote-by-mail ballots are sent to every active eligible voter in the nation's most populous state, meaning voting began in early May.
More than 3 million ballots have been cast.
Democrats, who typically have high turnout in primaries, have been slow to return or drop off ballots, Paul Mitchell, a Democratic strategist tracking ballot returns, told the Associated Press. Many may be waiting for poll and survey results to signal the most viable candidate in the crowded field of Democrats.
"My joke is: Call your Democratic parents and tell them to turn in their ballot," he said. "They are holding onto the ballot because they have seen this kind of topsy-turvy governor’s race. They’re waiting to make sure they’re making the right choice."
