California Poll Shows Republican, Democrat Tied for First Time in ...
California's 2026 gubernatorial race has seen multiple shifts in polls since former U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell ended his campaign.
ground.newsRecent polling for the California 2026 governor race continues to show a tight, fluid field, with several candidates essentially tied at the top and a meaningful share of voters still undecided.[2][4]
What the latest polls are saying
- PPIC poll (late February 2026): The race was described as tight, with five candidates essentially tied at/near the top. It also reported Katie Porter as the top-polling Democrat at that time, while Steve Hilton remained the overall top choice.[2]
- California Democratic Party–commissioned poll (early May 2026, reported May 5): A newer survey found Democrat Xavier Becerra and Republican Steve Hilton tied for first at 18% support each, with undecided voters at 14% as ballots moved. The reporting also noted Becerra’s gain since a prior point in time and listed other candidates’ shares.[4]
- CBS News poll (late April 2026): Coverage of CBS News polling characterized the contest as still “wide-open,” ahead of a debate.[5]
Why the numbers look so changeable
- Multiple candidates have been rising or falling in recent polling, and undecided voters are still large enough to move the standings quickly as voters get more information and as primary ballots/visibility change.[4][2]
If you tell me which candidates you care about most (e.g., Hilton vs. Becerra, or Porter/Steyer/Bianco), I can summarize the most relevant poll findings for that matchup.