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A new poll shows California's gubernatorial race tightening significantly, with Democrat Xavier Becerra leading Republican Steve Hilton by just 5.6 points based on a survey of 1,020 voters conducted October 1-2. This represents a substantial shift from an earlier poll that gave Becerra a 15-point lead. The latest numbers show Becerra at 45.7% and Hilton at 40.1%, with 14.1% undecided. Hilton’s campaign highlights voter dissatisfaction with California's direction, aiming to capitalize on the high percentage of undecided voters.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-04,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
In a recent post-debate poll commissioned by Steve Hilton’s campaign and conducted by David Wolfson on October 1-2, the California governor's race has seen a dramatic tightening. The poll surveyed 1,020 California voters and found Democrat Xavier Becerra holding a narrow 5.6-point lead over Republican Steve Hilton, with 45.7% support for Becerra compared to 40.1% for Hilton. Notably, 14.1% of voters remain undecided, indicating the race is still very competitive. This shift marks a significant narrowing from an earlier poll where Becerra had a substantial 15-point lead, highlighting the volatile nature of voter preferences.
Written for “California Governor Race Polls” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
This article does not take a side on a contested political
question, so it has no leaning score. That is an
answer rather than a gap: a match report or a rescue can be warmly
or critically written without being left or right, and scoring it
anyway is how approval of a subject gets recorded as a political
position.
No political leaning scored for article 56138 · logged 2026-10-04
Xavier Becerra’s lead over Steve Hilton has shrunk to just 5.6 points in a new post-debate poll – with nearly one in seven voters still undecided
The California governor’s race has tightened dramatically, with Democrat Becerra holding a slim 5.6-point advantage over Republican Steve Hilton in a new poll conducted immediately after the candidates’ first debate.
The poll, commissioned by Hilton’s campaign and conducted by pollster David Wolfson on Oct. 1-2, surveyed 1,020 California voters and found Becerra with 45.7% support to Hilton’s 40.1%, while another 14.1% remain undecided.
asserted
% → shrink → %
The numbers mark a striking shift from an earlier poll commissioned by Hilton that showed Becerra with a 52%-37% lead, according to a poll previously reported by the Post.
uncertain
that → mark → Post
That 15-point advantage has now been reduced to less than six points.
asserted
advantage → reduce → points
Becerra’s support has dropped 6.3 percentage points from that earlier survey, while Hilton has gained 3.1 points, producing a 9.4-point shift in the margin.
asserted
Hilton → drop → margin
And with 14.1% of voters still undecided, the race remains very much in play.
asserted
race → remain → play
The new Wolfson survey also suggests Californians are far from thrilled with the direction of their state.
uncertain
Californians → suggest → state
Nearly six in 10 voters — 58.8% — said California is headed in the wrong direction, compared with just 28.1% who said the state is moving in the right direction.
asserted
state → say → direction
That gloomy outlook could provide an opening for Hilton, who has made frustration with California’s high costs and Democratic leadership central to his campaign.
But Becerra still holds the advantage among voters who have made up their minds.
uncertain
who → provide → minds
When respondents who were undecided were asked which candidate they would lean toward if forced to choose, 72.5% leaned toward Becerra and 27.5% toward Hilton.
asserted
% → ask → Hilton
The survey also found that neither candidate is particularly beloved.
asserted
candidate → find → ?
Becerra’s favorable rating stood at 44.1%, while 45.3% viewed him unfavorably.
asserted
% → stand → him
Hilton fared worse overall, with 35.5% favorable and 50.7% unfavorable.
asserted
% → fare → ?
The poll was conducted after a highly watched Oct. 1 debate between the two candidates.
asserted
poll → conduct → candidates
About 11.2% said they watched all or nearly all of the debate on CNN, while another 9.5% watched part of it.
asserted
% → say → it
Nearly 20% saw clips or highlights online or in the news, and another 19.9% said they followed news coverage without watching the debate itself.
asserted
they → see → debate
The latest numbers are a significant departure from several recent public polls that have shown Becerra holding a much wider lead.
asserted
Becerra → show → lead
The poll also comes amid Hilton’s accusations of Becerra lying about his immigrant background.
“Unlike Becerra (because I’ve been out there listening to the people), I know Becerra’s policies have destroyed the California Dream.
asserted
policies → come → Dream
My plans will restore it,” Hilton wrote on X.
“Unlike Xavier Becerra, I am an immigrant.
asserted
I → restore → Becerra
My whole family,” he added.
asserted
he → add → ?
Becerra has previously said his parents moved to the U.S. as immigrants.
asserted
parents → say → immigrants
The Post has reached out to the Becerra camp for further comment.
asserted
Post → reach → comment
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