Becerra Leads Hilton in California Governor Race

Democrat Xavier Becerra holds a double-digit polling advantage over Republican Steve Hilton ahead of the November gubernatorial election in California.

Updated on Nov. 1, 2026 in Elections

Becerra Leads Hilton in California Governor Race

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Democrat Xavier Becerra leads Republican Steve Hilton in polling for California's November gubernatorial election. Becerra surged to win the June primary after rival Eric Swalwell's campaign imploded.

Why it matters

The race will determine who leads California, the state's largest electorate, into the next term. Hilton's Crowdpac background and Trump endorsement have shaped the contest's partisan dynamics.

The most recent polling shows Hilton trailing Becerra by at least 20 points, according to available survey data. The stub does not identify the pollsters, sample sizes, or margin of error, leaving the reliability of the gap unconfirmed.

The players

Xavier Becerra

Becerra is a Democratic politician from Sacramento who leads in polling for California's governorship.

Steve Hilton

Hilton is a Republican candidate and former senior advisor to UK Prime Minister David Cameron who previously hosted a Fox News show.

Donald Trump

Trump is the current President of the United States who endorsed Hilton's gubernatorial run in April.

The details

Becerra grew up in Sacramento's Hollywood Park and attended C.K. McClatchy High School in the mid-1970s before his later career. Hilton, a former senior advisor to UK Prime Minister David Cameron, moved to California in 2012 and launched the political fundraising startup Crowdpac in 2013 with co-founder Gisel Kordestani.

2012: Hilton moves to California for what began as a yearlong sabbatical.
2013: Hilton launches Crowdpac with Gisel Kordestani.
2017: Hilton accepts a weekly Fox News show.
Spring 2018: Democratic activists call for Crowdpac boycotts after Hilton's alignment with Trump.
May 2018: Hilton steps down from Crowdpac.

Political Context

Hilton's 2018 departure from Crowdpac followed Democratic activists calling for boycotts over his alignment with Trump, a dynamic that continues to define his candidacy. Opponents argue that his association with Trump and his media career weigh against his fitness for statewide executive office.

The outcome will determine who directs state policy on taxes, regulation, and public services for California residents. Voters should review candidate positions as the November election approaches.

The takeaway

California voters face a choice that will shape state governance for years, so comparing candidates' platforms directly is the most useful step before November.