Photo: Scott Brandt/Contributed
California may have a chance to reverse course on politics when it comes to the Governor’s Mansion next year amid early gubernatorial polling that shows a popular Republican candidate pulling ahead just 11 months out from next year’s election.
Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, who entered the race for governor in February on the Republican ticket, is leading the pack of contenders with 13 percent of the potential vote, according to data from Emerson College/Inside California Politics. He has edged ahead of Democrat candidate and current California Congressman Eric Swalwell by one point.
The only other Republican in the race, Steve Hilton, is holding 12 percent of the vote. Democrats, on the other hand, are fighting for support within a very crowded field, with other candidates like former Rep. Katie Porter, former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, and former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra eating up percentage points and spreading Democrat support thin.
Since October’s Emerson poll, Bianco has gained an additional two points of support with California voters, while Hilton has lost four. Right now, 31 percent of California voters are “undecided” on who they will vote for in next year’s gubernatorial election.
Bianco’s lead could signal a political turning tide in deep-blue California, a state that has been led by Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom for nearly seven years.
“I am running for governor of our beautiful state which I absolutely love because [we’re] heading down the wrong track, and it has been for years,” Sheriff Bianco said earlier this year, upon announcing his run. “Everyone knows it except for those sitting in that echo chamber in Sacramento.”
Bianco strongly endorsed President Donald Trump during his 2024 presidential campaign. As reported by RSBN, California has not elected a Republican governor since Arnold Schwarzenegger won in 2006.
