Republicans Lead in Four California Governor Race Polls
Several candidates are running to replace Governor Gavin Newsom, who is term-limited, in the 2026 midterms.
www.newsweek.comHere are the most recent, poll-related developments in the California 2026 governor race I can see from currently available sources:
Latest poll snapshots (statewide primary context)
- April 2026 (CBS News / LA coverage): CBS News reported that the governor race is still “wide open” ahead of a debate, based on its latest poll.[6]
- April 2026 (Inside California Politics / KTLA / Nexstar commissioned poll): A new poll after Eric Swalwell’s exit showed Republican Steve Hilton leading with 17%, followed by Chad Bianco at 14%; Tom Steyer (a Democrat) was tied with Bianco (14%).[4]
- April 2026 (Democratic Party voter index mentioned by NTD): A “latest voter index” cited showed Steve Hilton 17%, Chad Bianco 14%, and Xavier Becerra 13% (tied with Tom Steyer), with 20% undecided.[2]
What this suggests
- In the newest coverage, Hilton and Bianco are commonly shown at/near the top, while Democratic support appears to be shifting after Swalwell’s departure and among several competing Democrats.[2][4]
If you tell me whether you mean polling for the Democratic primary, the Republican primary, or a general/overall matchup, I can summarize the numbers in that exact format.