Trending Now - California Democrats Face Uninspiring Options in Newsom's Successor Race
WHO:
ABC News - California Democrats are involved in the race to replace Governor Gavin Newsom.
WHAT:
AP News - Voting began in early May ahead of the June 2 primary, but Democrats have been returning their ballots at a slower pace than normal.
AP News - As of a recent report, about 11% of the state’s roughly 23 million voters had voted, including about 15% of Republicans, 11% of Democrats, and 8% of voters registered with no or another party.
AP News - Support for Becerra increased from only 5% in a PPIC poll conducted in late March and early April, when Swalwell was still in the race.
ABC7 Los Angeles - The California primary election is scheduled for June 2, with Becerra at 23% and Hilton at 20% support among likely voters.
KQED - The latest poll indicates that no other candidates are polling in double digits, with Steyer at 15%, Bianco at 13%, and Porter at 12%.
KQED - Becerra leads the poll with 23% support among likely voters, followed by Hilton at 20%. Steyer has 15%, Bianco at 13%, and Porter at 12%.
KQED - Mark Baldassare, PPIC survey director, stated, “This is the first poll that we’ve done that showed with some clarity that we have two candidates with more than 20% of the vote — one a Democrat, one a Republican.”
ABC News - The race for California governor is crowded with no clear front-runner.
ABC News - Voters will decide which two candidates will advance to the general election in November.
WHERE:
ABC News - The location of the election is California.
WHEN:
ABC News - The general election is scheduled for November.
WHY:
AP News - Democrats are perplexed due to the state’s top-two primary system, which places all candidates on a single ballot regardless of party, leading to concerns about the potential advancement of two leading Republicans.
KQED - Support for Becerra increased after East Bay Rep. Eric Swalwell dropped out of the race amid allegations of sexual assault and harassment against him.
KQED - Baldassare noted that Becerra has experience in Sacramento, which appealed to Democrats.
ABC News - California Democrats are facing uninspiring options in the race to replace Newsom.
HOW:
AP News - Some Democrats are waiting to cast their ballots to see if one candidate breaks away from the pack in the final days, relying on polling to help make their decision.
KQED - Hilton surged ahead of Bianco among Republican voters after Trump endorsed him in early April.
ABC News - The process involves voters selecting candidates to advance in the election.
(UPDATED May 28, 2026 19:50 UTC)
Voting has been underway since early May ahead of the June 2 primary, but Democrats are returning their ballots at a slower pace than usual, with only about 11% of the state’s roughly 23 million voters having cast their votes so far. Among those, 15% of Republicans, 11% of Democrats, and 8% of voters registered with no or another party have participated, while support for Becerra has surged from just 5% in a recent poll conducted when Swalwell was still in the race. Many Democrats are holding off on voting, hoping to see if one candidate emerges as a clear front-runner in the final days, as they rely on polling data to guide their decisions.
--
(UPDATED May 28, 2026 18:00 UTC)
The California primary election is set for June 2, with current polling showing Becerra leading at twenty-three percent and Hilton close behind at twenty percent among likely voters. The latest survey reveals that no other candidates are reaching double digits, as Steyer stands at fifteen percent, Bianco at thirteen percent, and Porter at twelve percent. This primary is shaping up to be a competitive race as voters prepare to make their choices.
--
(UPDATED May 28, 2026 12:06 UTC)
In a recent poll, Becerra leads with 23% support among likely voters, closely followed by Hilton at 20%, while Steyer, Bianco, and Porter trail behind with 15%, 13%, and 12% respectively. Mark Baldassare, the PPIC survey director, highlighted that this is the first poll showing two candidates, one Democrat and one Republican, surpassing the 20% mark, a shift attributed to Becerra's increased support after East Bay Rep. Eric Swalwell exited the race. Additionally, Hilton gained momentum among Republican voters following Trump's endorsement in early April, which has significantly impacted the dynamics of the race.
--
(UPDATED May 28, 2026 08:20 UTC)
California Democrats are gearing up for a crowded race to replace Governor Gavin Newsom, with no clear front-runner emerging among the candidates. Voters will have the opportunity to select which two candidates will advance to the general election scheduled for November. As the election approaches, many are expressing concerns over the uninspiring options available to them.