CA-GOV: Becerra looks likely to pull off California comeback [View all]

Former Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra (D) looks poised to finish as one of the front-runners Tuesday in the race to succeed California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D), a remarkable arc for the candidate who polled in just single digits a few months ago.

Democrats credit several factors for Becerra’s momentum: former Rep. Eric Swalwell’s (D-Calif.) exit from the primary in mid-April; Becerra’s experience running statewide; voter skepticism over billionaires like Tom Steyer; and the potential superlative that Democrats could elect their first Latino governor in the Golden State in more than a century.

While polling indicates Becerra and Republican Steve Hilton are likely to proceed to the November general election, some Democrats say Steyer should not be counted out of potentially placing within the top two — particularly as some polling shows a portion of the electorate is still undecided.

“There’s a huge chunk of votes that are sitting out there uncommitted at the moment,” veteran Democratic strategist Darry Sragow said. “My guess is most of them are Democrats, because Republicans, again, just make up their minds pretty early and stick to their guns. And so it may be that Steyer, as well as Becerra, is the beneficiary of a surge.”




https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/5901975-xavier-becerra-california-gubernatorial-race-newsom/