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Republicans Lead in California Governor Race Post Swalwell Exit
KSBW ^ | Apr 17, 2026 | Ricardo Tovar

Posted on 04/17/2026 8:24:07 PM PDT by nickcarraway

The California governor's race is heating up, with Emerson College polls showing two Republicans leading after Eric Swalwell's departure.

Steve Hilton leads with 17%, followed by Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco at 14%. Democratic billionaire Tom Steyer is tied with Bianco at 14%.

Trailing Democrats include former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra and former Representative Katie Porter both tied at 10%. San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan follows with 5%.

The poll also found that 23% of likely voters said they are still undecided, meaning the race remains wide open.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: California
KEYWORDS: california; chadbianco; demagogicparty; emersoncollege; ericswalwell; gavinnewsom; karenbass; katieporter; ksbw; mattmahan; ricardotovar; riversidecounty; sanjose; stevehilton; tomsteyer; xavierbecerra
This is better than the poll yesterday had Steyer in the lead with 21%.



Steve Hilton 17%
Chad Biano 14%
Tom Steyer 14%
Xavier Becerra 10%
Katie Porter 10%
Matt Mahan 5%



How can 10% of people say they are voting for Katie Porter?

1 posted on 04/17/2026 8:24:07 PM PDT by nickcarraway
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To: nickcarraway

“ How can 10% of people say they are voting for Katie Porter?”

Because at least 10% of Commiefornians are morons!


2 posted on 04/17/2026 8:29:45 PM PDT by TonyM (Score Event)
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To: nickcarraway

I’m for Hilton, but the race between the top two Republicans is getting acrimonious.


3 posted on 04/17/2026 8:31:14 PM PDT by Fiji Hill
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To: nickcarraway

Because this state has PLENTY of morons in it thats how anyone can vote for Katie Porter who is certifiable. Steyer is just plain evil, wants to get rid of all private health insurance, wants single payer, but NOT for himself hes too special. Swalwell’s name will be on the ballot though because its too late for his name to be removed


4 posted on 04/17/2026 8:31:44 PM PDT by Sarah Barracuda
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To: TonyM

Just ten percent? Are you sure?


5 posted on 04/17/2026 8:45:46 PM PDT by Fungi
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To: nickcarraway

Sounds like the Dems need to come up with another set of accusations to ‘thin the field’.


6 posted on 04/17/2026 9:18:32 PM PDT by BobL (Trusting one's doctor is the #1 health mistake one can make.)
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To: nickcarraway

In Kalifornia, especially in Kalifornia, it is not who votes that counts. What matters is WHO counts the votes.

The top two vote getters, REGARDLESS OF POLITICAL PARTY, in the “primary” will run against each other for the Governorship.

The Kalifornia democRATS will make darn sure that there is at least one democRAT in the top two. Then, in the November election, Shazam! A little more “creative ballot counting.”

Every ballot in Kalifornia is by mail. There is early voting. In every small precinct there are dozens of “ballot drop boxes.” We call them “ballot stuffing boxes.”

If needed, they keep “counting” ballots for weeks after the election.

Finally, let’s say that they allowed a RINO to become Governor. Even if the RINO wanted to a accomplish something, the democRAT machine will chew him up and spit him out.

Anyone trying to get between the democRATS and the Kalifornia $$$$ spigot had better think twice.


7 posted on 04/17/2026 9:24:42 PM PDT by Ronaldus Magnus III (Do, or do not, there is no try. )
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To: nickcarraway

Get Swalwell back in here! Turn those machines back on!

Joy Reid blasts California Dems for letting GOP contenders take lead in governor’s race

https://www.foxnews.com/media/joy-reid-blasts-ca-dems-letting-gop-contenders-take-lead-governors-race


8 posted on 04/17/2026 9:39:16 PM PDT by Libloather (Why do climate change hoax deniers live in mansions on the beach?)
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Newsom PAC bought thousands of memoir copies about his hardships, juicing sales

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/newsom-pac-bought-thousands-memoir-copies-about-his-hardships-juicing-sales


9 posted on 04/17/2026 9:41:23 PM PDT by Libloather (Why do climate change hoax deniers live in mansions on the beach?)
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To: Ronaldus Magnus III

Just curious. Why do you spell California with a K? It doesn’t accomplish anything except possibly showing your contempt for the state. But there are other ways to do that without using the bizarre formulation of changing the spelling to use a K.


10 posted on 04/17/2026 10:07:46 PM PDT by Avalon Memories (It seems to be a law of nature...that those who will not risk cannot win. --John Paul Jones)
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To: AdmSmith; AnonymousConservative; Arthur Wildfire! March; Berosus; Bockscar; BraveMan; cardinal4; ...

11 posted on 04/17/2026 10:26:39 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (TDS -- it's not just for DNC shills anymore -- oh, wait, yeah it is.)
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To: Avalon Memories
Why do you spell California with a K? It doesn’t accomplish anything except possibly showing your contempt for the state

There is no problem with showing contempt for Kalifornia. Showing contempt for Kalifornia is much better than any admiration for the state. -+++++++
12 posted on 04/17/2026 10:45:00 PM PDT by Right_Wing_Madman (2+-``3)
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To: nickcarraway

I wonder if Nancy Pelosi will talk to Betty Yu and ask her to suspend her campaign for “the good of California” just like Nancy Pelosi did to Joe Biden in the summer of 2024.


13 posted on 04/17/2026 10:57:12 PM PDT by convoter2016 ( )
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To: nickcarraway

Steyr at only 14%? That surely does not takeinto account the riged algorithms, the wetback vote, the Deceased vote, the multiple vote, and the Xerox vote.


14 posted on 04/18/2026 3:52:44 AM PDT by arthurus (l| covfeve |l )
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To: nickcarraway

*How can 10% of people say they are voting for Katie Porter?*

Chubby chasers.


15 posted on 04/18/2026 5:05:07 AM PDT by DIRTYSECRET
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To: nickcarraway

How can ANYBODY vote for ANY DEMOCRAT?


16 posted on 04/18/2026 7:40:28 AM PDT by Taxman (We will never be a truly free people so long as we have the income tax and the IRS. )
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To: Taxman

Don’t kid yourself. The democrats there will NEVER allow a republican to win. They use myriad ways to cheat and always get the results they want. Remember they flipped four republican seats in 2024 by taking a month to count the phony votes. But they did it and got away with it.


17 posted on 04/18/2026 8:42:39 AM PDT by pawpawrick (I had a life once but my job ate it)
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To: pawpawrick

Maybe, just MAYBE! The Republicans can prevail.

Gotta be a LOT of REALLY UNHAPPY Kali-for-nians willing to dump the Democrats

As for the LIEberal cheating, lotta eyes on the mid-terms!

All we can do is hope and pray that the Good Guys prevail!


18 posted on 04/18/2026 8:52:53 AM PDT by Taxman (We will never be a truly free people so long as we have the income tax and the IRS. )
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To: DIRTYSECRET

Katie Porter/Gene Hackman: Twins separated at birth.


19 posted on 04/18/2026 9:35:41 AM PDT by Inspectorette
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