Xavier Becerra vs. Steve Hilton polls: California governor race 2026
Xavier Becerra vs. Steve Hilton · Open — Gavin Newsom (D) term-limited
Election Day: · California state guide
Xavier Becerra won by 31.4 points · called by Fox News at Nov 3, 11:00 PM ET
Lead at Nov 3, 11:25 PM ET: D +28.2 (41% counted) → now D +31.4
Unofficial results. Vote shares and calls from the Fox News Decision Desk results page ↗; this site does not project winners. Certified results come from the state election office.
California Governor result
Xavier Becerra (Democrat) won the California governor's race, according to a race call by Fox News at Nov 3, 11:00 PM ET. With 91% of the expected vote counted, Xavier Becerra had 65.7% to Steve Hilton's 34.3%, a margin of 31.4 points.
The seat was held by a Democrat before the election.
No verified poll ended in the final two weeks of the campaign, so there is no polling average to compare with the result.
On election night, the first snapshot this site saved (Nov 3, 11:25 PM ET, 41% counted) showed the Democrat ahead by 28.2 points; the lead widened to 31.4 points in the latest count. Early returns often contain a different mix of ballots than later ones, so movement during the count is normal.
Analysis: South Dakota and California: What One Recent Poll Can and Cannot Tell You
Certified results come from the California election office. See also polls vs results and closest races.
No verified poll in the last 14 days
The most recent verified poll in our dataset is Emerson, field dates ending : Xavier Becerra 60%, Steve Hilton 33%. It is listed below as history and is not used in a current average.
As of October 7, 2026, 1 reported poll was held back from this page until it can be checked against the original release.
Candidates · Ratings: Cook Solid D, Sabato Safe D · Polls and sources · California voting guide · Latest polls in all races
Governor races with recent verified polls: Texas (Abbott +1.0 in the 14-day average), Kansas (Masterson +1.5 in the 14-day average), Nebraska (Pillen +3.0 in the 14-day average).
Ratings are forecasters' judgments, not polls. About these ratings
Candidates
Xavier Becerra
Former U.S. Health Secretary
Steve Hilton
Former TV host
Candidates recorded in this dataset; confirm the complete ballot with the election authority. Poll matchups may omit other candidates.
Current 14-day average
No recent public polls
No average is available in the 14-day window through November 3, 2026. Older polls are listed as historical data below.
Logged polls and sources
| Pollster / field dates | Sample / population | Xavier Becerra % | Steve Hilton % | Source / notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EmersonOctober 17, 2026 – October 19, 2026Outside the selected averaging window | 1000LV | 60 | 33 | Original source ↗Emerson release: Oct 17-19, 1,000 LV; Becerra 60, Hilton 33, 7% undecided. |
Unverified and incomplete records stay visible and are explicitly excluded from the calculated average. We have not calculated an uncertainty interval for these averages. Source limitations.
Poll history
Trend of the 1 logged poll listed in the table above.
No recent public polling is logged for the governor's race in California in the 14 days through November 3, 2026. Historical polls remain listed below. The Cook Political Report rates it Solid D; Sabato's Crystal Ball rates it Safe D.
- Nebraska Senate · Tied · one of the closest races
- South Carolina Senate · Tied · one of the closest races
- Texas Governor · Abbott +1.0 · one of the closest races
- Kansas Governor · Masterson +1.5 · one of the closest races
- South Dakota and California: What One Recent Poll Can and Cannot Tell You · Analysis
- When Will 2026 Election Results Be Known? · Analysis
Full candidate biographies, primary results and campaign history: California Governor election on Wikipedia ↗. Official candidate lists and certified results come from the California election office via vote.gov.
What do verified polls show in the 2026 California governor race?
No recent public polling is logged for the governor's race in California in the 14 days through November 3, 2026. Historical polls remain listed below. The Cook Political Report rates it Solid D; Sabato's Crystal Ball rates it Safe D. Polls are snapshots, not predictions.
When is the California governor election?
The general election is on Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Early and mail voting rules vary; check California's rules on vote.gov.
What time do polls close in California?
On November 3, polls in California close at 11 p.m. ET. Anyone in line at closing time can still vote. See all states on our poll closing times page.
Where can I check the poll sources?
The logged poll table below links to original releases where a source is recorded. Only verified, complete polls are included in the calculated average.
Where can I follow live California results?
Unofficial live results for this race will appear on this page and on our live results page on election night. Official results are certified by the California election office.
Voting in California
Election Day: . Confirm your registration, deadlines, voting options, polling location and sample ballot with official sources.
Verified deadlines
- Early voting begins; ballot mailing begins by this date: · in person and mail (opens) · Official source ↗County locations and hours vary.
- Advance voter registration deadline: · online or mail (online submission or postmark) · Official source ↗Later conditional registration remains available.
- Conditional same-day registration and provisional voting: · in person through November 3, 2026 · Official source ↗Use your county election office, polling place or vote center; consult county guidance.
- Mailed ballot postmark deadline / hand delivery deadline: · mail or hand delivery (postmarked for mail; received for delivery) · Official source ↗Hand delivery by 8 p.m.; mail must also arrive by November 10.
- Mailed ballot must arrive: · mail · must be received by this date · Official source ↗Must have been postmarked on or before November 3.
Sources checked 2026-10-07. Election rules and deadlines can change; confirm details with the authority.
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