Trending Now - Newsom Announces Special Election for Swalwell's Congressional Seat

WHO:

Fox News - California Governor Gavin Newsom announced a special election.

San Francisco Chronicle - Representative Eric Swalwell resigned from Congress.

WHAT:

San Francisco Chronicle - The Emerson College Polling survey indicates that 20% of Democrats now support Tom Steyer, 19% support Xavier Becerra, and 15% support Katie Porter following Eric Swalwell's exit from the race for Governor.

San Francisco Chronicle - The survey shows that 5% of voters support Democrat Matt Mahan, and 23% of voters remain undecided in the June 2026 primary for Governor.

San Francisco Chronicle - The economy is identified as the top issue for California voters at 41%, the highest since April 2025.

San Francisco Chronicle - The Emerson College Polling survey indicates that 48% of Republican voters support Steve Hilton, while 40% support Chad Bianco.

San Francisco Chronicle - Among independents, 16% support Tom Steyer, 15% support Steve Hilton, 14% support Chad Bianco, and 10% support Katie Porter.

San Francisco Chronicle - The survey shows that men split their support evenly between Hilton and Bianco at 19% each, while 18% support Steyer.

San Francisco Chronicle - Women voters are divided with 14% supporting Hilton, 14% supporting Becerra, 13% supporting Porter, 11% supporting Steyer, and 11% supporting Bianco.

San Francisco Chronicle - Voters under 50 show a plurality supporting Steyer at 15%, followed by Becerra at 13% and Porter at 11%. Voters over 50 support Hilton at 24%, followed by Bianco at 14%, Steyer at 13%, Porter at 10%, and Becerra at 8%.

San Francisco Chronicle - The new Emerson College Polling/Inside California Politics survey shows that in the June 2026 primary for Governor, 5% of voters support Democrat Matt Mahan, and 23% of voters are undecided.

San Francisco Chronicle - In the first Emerson poll since Eric Swalwell’s departure from the race for Governor, Democrats now split their vote with Tom Steyer receiving 20%, Xavier Becerra 19%, and Katie Porter 15%.

San Francisco Chronicle - Spencer Kimball, executive director of Emerson College Polling, stated, "Becerra gaining 15 points among Democrats without Swalwell on the ballot."

San Francisco Chronicle - The economy is identified as the top issue for California voters at 41%, followed by housing affordability at 20%, threats to democracy at 10%, crime at 6%, immigration at 6%, and healthcare at 6%.

San Francisco Chronicle - A new Emerson College Polling survey shows that in the June 2026 primary for Governor, 17% of voters support Republican Steve Hilton, 14% support Republican Chad Bianco, and 14% support Tom Steyer, while 10% support Democrat Xavier Becerra and 10% support Democrat Katie Porter.

San Francisco Chronicle - The economy is identified as the top issue for 41% of California voters, the highest since April 2025.

Fox News - A special election will be held to fill Eric Swalwell's vacant congressional seat.

San Francisco Chronicle - The special election is set for August 2026.

WHERE:

Fox News - The election will take place in California.

WHEN:

San Francisco Chronicle - The Emerson College Polling survey was conducted with a sample size of 1,000 California likely primary voters and has a credibility interval of +/- 3 percent.

San Francisco Chronicle - The Emerson College Polling survey was conducted from April 14th to April 15th, 2026, with a sample size of 1,000 California likely primary voters.

San Francisco Chronicle - The Emerson College Polling survey was conducted from April 14th to April 15th, 2026.

Fox News - The special election is scheduled for August 2026.

San Francisco Chronicle - Eric Swalwell's resignation occurred amid calls for him to step down.

WHY:

San Francisco Chronicle - Analysts believe that the odds of a Democratic lockout in the California governor’s race have dramatically shrunk following Swalwell's resignation, with his supporters likely migrating to Tom Steyer and Katie Porter.

Fox News - Eric Swalwell resigned from Congress amid public pressure to step down.

HOW:

Fox News - Governor Newsom's decision to call for a special election follows Swalwell's resignation.

(UPDATED April 16, 2026 23:13 UTC)

A new Emerson College Polling survey reveals that 20% of Democrats now support Tom Steyer, while 19% back Xavier Becerra, and 15% favor Katie Porter after Eric Swalwell's exit from the race for Governor. The poll also shows that 5% of voters support Democrat Matt Mahan, with 23% remaining undecided ahead of the June 20th26 primary, and the economy has emerged as the top issue for California voters at 41%, the highest level since April 20th25. Analysts suggest that the chances of a Democratic lockout in the governor’s race have significantly decreased, as Swalwell's supporters are likely shifting their support to Steyer and Porter.

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(UPDATED April 16, 2026 21:13 UTC)

A recent Emerson College Polling survey reveals that 48% of Republican voters in California support Steve Hilton, while 40% back Chad Bianco. Among independents, Tom Steyer leads with 16%, followed closely by Hilton at 15% and Bianco at 14%. The survey, which included 1,000 likely primary voters and has a credibility interval of plus or minus 3 percent, also shows that voters under 50 favor Steyer, while those over 50 lean towards Hilton.

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(UPDATED April 16, 2026 19:23 UTC)

A new Emerson College Polling survey reveals that in the upcoming June primary for Governor, 5% of voters support Democrat Matt Mahan, while 23% remain undecided. Following Eric Swalwell’s exit from the race, the poll shows a split among Democrats with Tom Steyer at 20%, Xavier Becerra at 19%, and Katie Porter at 15%, and Spencer Kimball from Emerson noted that Becerra gained 15 points among Democrats without Swalwell on the ballot. The survey, conducted from on Tuesday to on Wednesday, indicates that the economy is the top concern for California voters at 41%, followed by housing affordability at 20%.

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(UPDATED April 16, 2026 17:24 UTC)

A new Emerson College Polling survey shows that in the June 20th26 primary for Governor, Republican Steve Hilton leads with 17% of voter support, followed closely by Republicans Chad Bianco and Tom Steyer at 14% each, while Democrats Xavier Becerra and Katie Porter both garner 10%. The survey, conducted from on Tuesday to on Wednesday, reveals that the economy is the top concern for 41% of California voters, marking the highest level of economic concern since April 20th25. This polling data highlights the competitive landscape as candidates gear up for the upcoming primary.

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(UPDATED April 16, 2026 05:46 UTC)

California Governor Gavin Newsom has announced a special election to fill the vacant congressional seat left by Representative Eric Swalwell, who resigned amid public pressure to step down. The special election is scheduled for August 20th26 and will take place in California. This decision by Governor Newsom comes as the state prepares to address the vacancy created by Swalwell's resignation.