With Election Day just weeks away, Democrat Xavier Becerra holds a commanding 27-point lead over Republican Steve Hilton in California's race for governor, according to a new Emerson College poll released Wednesday.
The survey of 1,000 likely voters found Becerra, the former U.S. Health and Human Services secretary, backed by 60 percent of respondents, while Hilton, a Fox News commentator endorsed by President Trump, received 33 percent. Seven percent remained undecided, but 64 percent of those said they were leaning toward Becerra.
Becerra's lead has widened steadily since August, when a UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies poll showed him up by 18 points. Last month, that same institute found him ahead by 25 points. The new Emerson numbers suggest his advantage has grown further as the campaign enters its final stretch.
The race took shape in June's top-two primary, where Becerra captured about 28 percent of the vote. Hilton narrowly edged out Democratic billionaire Tom Steyer to claim the second spot on the November ballot, setting up a contest that has increasingly favored the Democrat in a state that has not elected a Republican governor since 2006.
The Emerson poll also probed voters' top concerns heading into the midterms. The economy dominated, cited by 45 percent of respondents, reflecting a national trend of anxiety over rising living costs. Housing affordability was the next most-cited issue at 17 percent, followed by healthcare and immigration, each at 10 percent.
President Trump's approval rating in California stood at 33 percent in the survey, consistent with his low numbers nationally. Governor Gavin Newsom, who is leaving office due to term limits, drew a 46 percent approval rating.
The poll's margin of error is 3.1 percentage points. The survey was conducted from October 17-19.
Becerra's strong performance in the polls comes as Democrats nationally are looking to consolidate support, though some concerns about youth turnout persist. Meanwhile, Republicans have sought to tie Democratic candidates to immigration and socialism, but such attacks appear to have limited traction in California.
With the race appearing increasingly out of reach for Hilton, attention has shifted to down-ballot contests and national implications. Recent projections show Democrats gaining ground in House races, and Trump's approval has sunk to 31 percent nationally, further complicating Republican hopes.
