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Republicans Could Flip California in Nightmare Scenario for Democrats—Poll
Newsweek ^ | Mar 18, 2026 at 03:50 PM EDT | Jesus Mesa, Political Reporter

Posted on 03/18/2026 6:44:07 PM PDT by Olog-hai

California's jungle primary system has created a path for Republicans to flip the state in a nightmare scenario for Democrats, according to new polling that shows the Democratic field splintering while GOP candidates consolidate.

The Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies poll, conducted March 9-15, has Republican commentator Steve Hilton at 17 percent and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco at 16 percent, while the leading Democratic candidates are scattered below them. Representative Eric Swalwell and former Representative Katie Porter each sit at 13 percent, businessman Tom Steyer at 10 percent, and former HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra at 5 percent. […]

The poll reveals a striking difference in how Republicans and Democrats are approaching California's open gubernatorial race. Republican voters have coalesced around a single dominant priority: cutting waste, fraud and political corruption, cited by 48 percent. Democratic voters, by contrast, are scattered across a fragmented landscape of concerns with no clear frontrunner issue.

Democratic voters cite housing (18 percent), immigrant protections (17 percent), homelessness (16 percent), the environment (16 percent), and schools (16 percent) as top priorities. No single issue breaks 18 percent.

Republican voters, meanwhile, have organized themselves around shared governance concerns—waste and corruption top the list, followed by crime and public safety (22 percent), cutting taxes (21 percent), and lowering gasoline prices (19 percent). …

(Excerpt) Read more at newsweek.com ...


TOPICS: Editorial; Politics/Elections; US: California
KEYWORDS: california; chadbianco; ericswalwell; katieporter; poll; polls; riversidecounty; stevehilton; tomsteyer; xavierbecerra
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1 posted on 03/18/2026 6:44:07 PM PDT by Olog-hai
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To: Olog-hai

First the Kalifornia Republicans have to stop the Democrats from stealing the election by their lying, rigging and cheating in every way possible.


2 posted on 03/18/2026 6:49:57 PM PDT by drypowder
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To: Olog-hai

The rats will cull their herd of mediocrity, leaving Porter and Swallwell for the sheep to gather around. They can easily make up a four point margin if the other four or five npc’s are forced to drop out.


3 posted on 03/18/2026 6:53:24 PM PDT by hinckley buzzard ( Resist the narrative. )
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To: hinckley buzzard

That is the purpose of this article.


4 posted on 03/18/2026 6:57:07 PM PDT by going hot (Happiness is a momma deuce)
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To: Olog-hai

“california democrats” = illegal aliens


5 posted on 03/18/2026 7:00:01 PM PDT by mitchjackson1972 (End usury - It's OK to be white - https://ussliberty.org/)
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To: Olog-hai

California deserves Eric Swalwell. I hope he wins.


6 posted on 03/18/2026 7:34:33 PM PDT by GSWarrior
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To: GSWarrior

Why?


7 posted on 03/18/2026 7:39:13 PM PDT by Olog-hai ("No Republican, no matter how liberal, is goings to woo a Democratic vote." -- Ronald Reagan, 1960)
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To: GSWarrior

More than six million of us here deep behind enemy lines. Hope about a little charity for us. Getting the number one and two spots would be drawing to the inside straight, but I think we have a really good chance of getting no. 1 or 2 voted for Donald Trump


8 posted on 03/18/2026 7:39:52 PM PDT by j.havenfarm (25 years on Free Republic, 12/10/25! More than 12,750 replies and still not shutting up!)
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To: GSWarrior

Sorry. 6 million here voted for Trump


9 posted on 03/18/2026 7:40:28 PM PDT by j.havenfarm (25 years on Free Republic, 12/10/25! More than 12,750 replies and still not shutting up!)
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To: Olog-hai

It will be a popcorn-worthy event.


10 posted on 03/18/2026 7:41:15 PM PDT by GSWarrior
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To: Olog-hai

It’s never a nightmare for Republicans, however.


11 posted on 03/18/2026 7:41:17 PM PDT by Ge0ffrey
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To: j.havenfarm

So did I.


12 posted on 03/18/2026 7:41:39 PM PDT by GSWarrior
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To: GSWarrior

Word...


13 posted on 03/18/2026 7:44:46 PM PDT by GOPJ (Trump's a Rorschach: for good or ill people see thier hidden selves in him. Protector? Bully? Savior)
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To: Olog-hai

It’s not really a nightmare scenario for the Dems. With the ability to sustain his veto, the CA Governor would just become a conservative figurehead.


14 posted on 03/18/2026 7:48:32 PM PDT by rbg81 (=)
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To: rbg81

Well, consider the source.


15 posted on 03/18/2026 7:49:04 PM PDT by Olog-hai ("No Republican, no matter how liberal, is goings to woo a Democratic vote." -- Ronald Reagan, 1960)
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To: Olog-hai

Nightmare? Seriously? A temporary inconvenience at worst.


16 posted on 03/18/2026 7:55:27 PM PDT by Mr. Blond
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To: hinckley buzzard

The rats control the election process top to bottom. There is 0 chance they will let a Republican win.


17 posted on 03/18/2026 8:04:19 PM PDT by gibsonguy
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To: Olog-hai

That would be a first. Schwarzenegger is a RINO. Reagan was a demoncRAT then turned Republican and won the gubernatorial race in CA.


18 posted on 03/18/2026 8:35:26 PM PDT by gildafarrell (To Strive, To Seek, To Find and Not To Yield!)
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To: rbg81

Well... yeah. EXCEPT for actions he could accomplish by Executive Order.

Bianco is campaigning hard on ELIMINATING CARB — the California Air Resources Board; that carbuncle of envirowhackism that has the entire vehicular fleet in this State spindled around its axle with inspections, more inspections, and fees upon fees... It’s $23 to Register my car, but the FEES tally up to are $138!

Bianco wants all of that nonsense GONE! Buy the car. Drive the car. Customize the car. Enjoy the car. LS swap the car. No matter the year, make or model. $25 FLAT registration for EVERYBODY. ZERO fees. NO SMOG checks. We’re Three Decades deep into fuel injection, with air/fuel mix computer controlled for optimal efficiency and a clean burn. SMOG checks are an expensive insult, and that’s about all.

OH, and with no CARB, there’ll be no CARB-spec gasoline requirement, anymore, either; California will be able to run on the same products as every neighboring State. No special production requirements, no “California spec” diesel... expect pump prices to absolutely TOPPLE if Bianco gets the win.


19 posted on 03/18/2026 8:40:00 PM PDT by HKMk23 (https://youtu.be/LTseTg48568)
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To: gildafarrell

I hope you’re not claiming Reagan switched parties for political expediency rather than for the reasons he stated. Political expediency would have dictated that he stayed a Democrat, no?


20 posted on 03/18/2026 9:05:01 PM PDT by Olog-hai ("No Republican, no matter how liberal, is goings to woo a Democratic vote." -- Ronald Reagan, 1960)
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