Former US Health Secretary Xavier Becerra Gains Massive Lead in California Governor's Race After Swalwell Exit Californians will vote in less than 50 days to select the next governor, with a significant shift in the race following the withdrawal of Democratic frontrunner Eric Swalwell. The former congressman, who faced sexual assault accusations, dropped out of the race this week, creating an opening for other candidates. A new poll from Inside California Politics and Emerson College Polling shows a notable realignment in voter support, with Xavier Becerra emerging as a strong contender. The survey, which included 1,000 voters, highlights the fluid nature of the race. Previously, Swalwell held 17% of support, but his exit has led to a significant shift. Becerra, the former US Health Secretary, saw a massive 15-point increase among Democrats. Political analysts suggest that Swalwell’s departure has allowed voters to reconsider their options, particularly among those seeking candidates with clearer policy positions. Melissa Michelson, a political science professor at Menlo College, noted that the poll underscores the race’s openness, stating, “This should actually be encouraging news to the entire rest of the field that they might get another look.” The poll also reveals a competitive landscape among other candidates. Republican Steve Hilton leads with 17% support, followed by Republican Chad Bianco and Democrat Tom Steyer, who are tied at 14%. Steyer, a billionaire environmentalist, remains a prominent figure on the left, while Bianco, a former state senator, has gained traction as a potential moderate. Meanwhile, Becerra’s rise has positioned him as a key player, now tied with Katie Porter at 10%, while Matt Mahan climbed to 5%. Political communications professor Dan Schnur of U.C.#eric_swalwell #chad_bianco #tom_steyer #xavier_becerra #melissa_michelson
Xavier Becerra surges in poll after Eric Swalwell drops out of California governor's race A significant shift has occurred in the California governor's race following the withdrawal of former Rep. Eric Swalwell, who had been a leading contender, due to multiple allegations of sexual misconduct. A new poll conducted by Emerson College’s Inside California Politics reveals a notable change in voter support, with Xavier Becerra emerging as the biggest beneficiary of Swalwell’s exit. The poll, released shortly after Swalwell’s withdrawal and amid President Trump’s endorsement of Republican Steve Hilton, shows Becerra’s support rising to 10%, a seven-point increase since March. This surge positions him as a key player in the race, despite remaining behind the leading Republican candidate, Hilton, who holds 17% of the vote. Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco follows with 14%, while billionaire Tom Steyer, another Democratic candidate, trails at 14%. Former Rep. Katie Porter and San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan each secure 10% and 5%, respectively. The poll also highlights a substantial portion of undecided voters, with 23% of respondents yet to commit to a candidate. Politics professor Sara Sadhwani of Pomona College emphasized the volatility of the race, stating that Swalwell’s exit has created a “huge vacuum” and intensified uncertainty. Zev Yaroslavsky, director of UCLA’s Luskin School of Public Affairs, noted that Becerra’s rise is the most significant development in the survey, calling him “the biggest move” in the race. Yaroslavsky further speculated that Trump’s endorsement of Hilton could bolster the Republican’s position over time, potentially pushing Bianco’s support downward. However, he acknowledged that the race remains competitive, with over 30% of voters still undecided.#eric_swalwell #steve_hilton #chad_bianco #tom_steyer #xavier_becerra
California court denies appeal to stop Riverside County Sheriff's election fraud investigation A California court ruled Tuesday that the state attorney general’s attempt to halt an investigation into alleged election fraud in Riverside County was unsuccessful. The appellate court denied the request, citing the location where the case was filed rather than the merits of the petition. California Attorney General Rob Bonta’s office emphasized that the decision does not reflect on the validity of the investigation, which focuses on the actions of Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco. Bianco, a Republican running for governor, is accused of seizing over 611,000 ballots from the Prop 50 special election, which approved a redistricting measure shifting five Republican U.S. House seats to more Democratic-leaning districts. The measure passed in Riverside County with over 56% of the vote, according to The Associated Press. The ballots supporting the new maps exceeded those opposing them by approximately 82,570 votes. Bianco claimed his agency was investigating a complaint alleging a discrepancy of about 45,800 votes between the total reported to the state and the actual count. He described the probe as a “fact-finding mission” to physically count ballots and compare the results with the official tally. However, Secretary of State Shirley Weber dismissed the allegations, stating they lack credible evidence and could undermine public trust in elections. She noted that Bianco’s staff is not qualified to conduct election investigations, as they lack expertise in election administration. County elections officials confirmed that the machine count and the final tally submitted to the state differed by around 100 votes.#chad_bianco #rob_bonta #california_attorney_general #riverside_county_sheriff #shirley_weber
California Attorney General Rob Bonta’s attempt to block Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco’s seizure of 2025 ballots was rejected by a court on Tuesday. The state’s legal office had sought to halt the sheriff’s investigation into alleged voter fraud, arguing that Bianco had not provided sufficient evidence to justify the criminal probe. The court, however, ruled that Bonta should have filed his complaint in the local Riverside County court rather than the appellate court. Bianco, a Republican running for governor, seized approximately 650,000 ballots from the November 2025 special election and initiated a recount. He described the effort as a “fact-finding mission” aimed at ensuring election accuracy. The move has drawn criticism from legal experts and election officials, who argue that the sheriff’s office lacks the authority to investigate ballot integrity. Bonta’s office has raised concerns that the investigation is a “fishing expedition” designed to undermine public trust in elections. The attorney general’s legal team pointed to sworn statements Bianco provided to a Riverside County judge to obtain warrants for the ballot seizure. Bonta’s office claims these statements did not establish probable cause for the criminal investigation. The warrants, however, remain sealed in Riverside County Superior Court, with redacted details in Bonta’s court filings. The warrants were approved by Judge Jay Kiel, a former prosecutor who previously endorsed Bianco’s gubernatorial campaign. The controversy stems from claims by a Riverside County citizens’ group that election officials overstated the number of ballots counted in the November special election. The group alleged discrepancies tied to Democrat-drawn congressional maps.#chad_bianco #rob_bonta #california_attorney_general #riverside_county_sheriff #riverside_county_superior_court
California Governor’s Race: Tensions Rise Between Steve Hilton and Chad Bianco Polling in the 2026 California governor’s race has placed former Fox News host Steve Hilton and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco at the top of the Republican field, with some surveys indicating they could potentially advance to the November runoff against the Democratic candidates. Despite both being conservative Republicans aligned with former President Donald Trump, the two candidates have openly criticized each other over key issues, including law enforcement policies, immigration, and their responses to the Black Lives Matter movement. Bianco has accused Hilton of undermining the possibility of two Republicans winning by adopting a “destructive” strategy against his opponents. During an interview with ABC7 political reporter Josh Haskell, Bianco claimed that Hilton’s tactics have “ruined that chance,” arguing that the former Fox News host’s approach has focused on attacking his rivals rather than addressing the broader challenges facing California. Bianco emphasized that Hilton’s actions have contributed to the unrest in Riverside, where he was involved in a controversial incident during the George Floyd protests in June 2020. Hilton, however, has dismissed Bianco’s claims as false. He criticized Bianco for allegedly “buckling in the face of pressure” during the protests, referencing a moment when Bianco called on Black Lives Matter protesters to collaborate with him. Hilton created a website called BLM Bianco to highlight this incident, which he claims shows Bianco’s supposed alignment with the movement. Bianco responded by calling Hilton a “liar,” insisting that he was the first law enforcement leader in the country to “stand up to BLM” and use “an overwhelming show of force” to disperse protesters.#steve_hilton #chad_bianco #josh_haskell #george_floyd_protests #gavin_newsom
