Poll: Becerra, Steyer lead CA governor race; Hilton trails

An Emerson College Polling survey released Saturday shows Xavier Becerra leading California’s governor race, with Tom Steyer and Steve Hilton close behind.

The poll, conducted May 27-28 among 1,000 likely voters, found Becerra at 28%, Steyer at 22% and Hilton at 21%. The results suggest Becerra has the clearest path to the top spot, while Steyer and Hilton remain locked in a tight contest for second.

The survey lands in the final stretch before California’s June 2 primary, when voters will decide which candidates advance in the state’s governor race. Late coverage from the Los Angeles Times and NBC Los Angeles reported the same poll numbers, while the Associated Press noted that the race remains close in the final days.

The polling also underscores how unsettled the fight for second place remains. In the Emerson survey, Steyer held a slight edge over Hilton, but the gap was just one point.

With the primary days away, the latest numbers point to a race that is still fluid even as Becerra solidifies his lead.