Xavier Becerra maintains a commanding lead in the race for California governor, holding 61% support over Republican challenger Steve Hilton, according to a new survey released by the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC).
The report indicates that Hilton garners just 37% support among likely voters, putting the Democratic nominee ahead by 24 percentage points. Becerra also maintains a firm hold on independent voters, leading that bloc by 13 points.
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While a majority of voters express satisfaction with the candidate field, enthusiasm varies sharply by age.
More than 70% of voters aged 55 and older say they are satisfied with their choices, compared to just half of those between the ages of 18 and 34.
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The poll also show that 82% of adult Californians believe the United States is currently on the “wrong track”, the highest level of pessimism recorded since the PPIC began asking the question.
The PPIC findings align closely with a survey by Emerson College, which shows Becerra leading Hilton 60% to 33%, while the latest UC Berkeley IGS poll puts Becerra ahead 55% to 37% (down from a 58% to 33% gap in their prior release).
