Xavier Becerra is leading Steve Hilton by a wide margin in California’s Gubernatorial race, according to a survey from the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC).
The survey shows Becerra, a Democrat, leads 61% to 36% over Hilton, a Republican. Both candidates have overwhelming support from their parties: 93% of Democrats support Becerra while 90% of Republicans favor Hilton. Independent voters lean toward Becerra at 60%.
Becerra leads Hilton across multiple demographics including age, gender, homeownership, income and racial/ethnic groups, and across the state’s major regions, according to the PPIC.
The survey does not clarify preferences by ethnic group. It does not indicate how many Latinos would vote for Becerra.
The survey also shows that 85% of likely voters said the candidates’ positions on environmental issues are important in determining their vote.
Democrats in the U.S. House district races also have support by voters by a wide margin. Sixty-three percent of voters said they would favor the Democratic candidate compared to the 35% for the Republican candidate, the survey shows. Voter preferences were similar to PPIC’s May and February surveys.
More than nine in 10 Democrat and Republican voters would likely choose their party’s candidate in the House races, according to the survey. About 63% of independent voters read more to Democratic candidates.
Just like the race for governor, the majority of voters said House candidates’ stance on environmental issues are important in deciding their vote.
As for the current sitting governor, more than half of voters surveyed approve of Gavin Newsom (53%) and California legislators (51%) of the way they are handling environmental issues in the state.
By comparison, fewer than three in 10 voters approve the way that President Donald Trump and current Congress members are handling those issues.
