Steve Hilton Edges Ahead in Latest California Gubernatorial Poll with 16% Support

Conservative commentator and former Fox News host Steve Hilton has emerged as the leading candidate in the latest Emerson College poll for California's 2026 gubernatorial race, securing 16% of likely voters. This places the Republican candidate narrowly ahead of Democratic front-runner, former U.S. Representative Katie Porter, who polled at 15%. The poll, conducted on October 20 and 21, indicates a shift in the competitive field aiming to succeed outgoing Governor Gavin Newsom.

The development follows Hilton's official announcement in April 2025, where he launched his campaign as a Republican. "Republican Steve Hilton is the leading candidate for California's next governor," stated Shiloh Marx in a recent tweet, a sentiment now supported by the new polling data. Hilton, who became a U.S. citizen in 2021, has positioned himself as a challenger to what he terms "Democrat one-party rule" in California, focusing on issues such as high taxes, housing costs, and crime.

Hilton's campaign platform emphasizes reducing the cost of living, enforcing laws more strictly, and addressing issues like homelessness and high energy prices. He has been actively campaigning across the state, aiming to connect with working Californians. The recent poll also shows Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, another Republican, trailing at 11%, while former Democratic Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra both tied at 5%.

The shift in polling comes amidst recent scrutiny surrounding Katie Porter, including viral interview clips and an incident involving a staffer. Hilton's campaign, in an X post, highlighted these events, stating, "First poll since Katie Porter meltdown shows Steve Hilton leading race for California governor." Despite California's strong Democratic leanings, with the last Republican governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, elected in 2006, the state's "jungle primary" system allows the top two candidates, regardless of party, to advance to the general election.