Xavier Becerra cruising to governor’s mansion as Dems hate Trump more than affordability crisis: poll

Xavier Becerra’s supporters are more obsessed with President Trump than tackling California’s affordability crisis by a nearly 2-to-1 ratio, according to a new poll that shows the Democrat cruising toward the governor’s office.

The Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies released a survey Friday that found 62% of Becerra voters said fighting Trump administration policies was among their top election concerns, compared with 33% who selected reducing the cost of living.

The findings suggest resistance to the current occupant of the White House remains a more powerful rallying point among Becerra backers than the financial squeeze facing Californians — as Republican rival Steve Hilton struggles to gain ground four days before the election.

Becerra led Hilton 61% to 34% among likely voters, with 5% undecided. His 27-percentage-point advantage grew from a 25-point lead in September.

Respondents could select up to two top election issues, meaning fighting Trump and addressing affordability were not mutually exclusive choices.

The findings follow on another recent poll that found just 30.1% of voters think the state is on the right track, while 44% have seriously considered leaving California within the last four years.

Among Becerra supporters in the Berkeley survey, ensuring their party maintains or wins control of Congress ranked third at 29%. Protecting immigrant communities followed at 14%, while improving health care coverage for those in need drew 13%.

Just 3% selected reducing taxes, and 4% chose fighting crime and ensuring public safety.

Hilton’s supporters offered a sharply different set of priorities.

Reducing taxes topped their list at 49%, followed by immigration enforcement at 41% and fighting crime and ensuring public safety at 36%. Lowering the cost of living drew 34%, almost identical to the share among Becerra voters.

Only 2% of Hilton supporters selected fighting Trump administration policies.

Across the likely electorate, opposition to Trump’s policies ranked first at 40%, followed by affordability at 34%.

The survey also illustrated the formidable partisan math confronting Hilton in a state where Democratic registrants outnumber Republicans nearly 2-to-1.

Each candidate won support from 94% of voters registered with his respective party. But Becerra also led 59% to 31% among voters registered without a party preference or with other parties.

Becerra received at least 50% support in every major region and demographic group reported by pollsters. His strongest regional showing came in the San Francisco Bay Area, where he led 72% to 23%.

Hilton came closest in Orange County, trailing 50% to 49%.

Even some of the Republican’s own voters appeared unconvinced he could pull off an upset.

Nearly a third of Hilton supporters predicted Becerra would win. Among all likely voters, 71% expected a Becerra victory, compared with 16% who anticipated Hilton becoming governor.

Becerra’s favorable rating climbed to 53%, up from 48% in September. Hilton’s stood at 34%, while 56% viewed him unfavorably.

The poll was conducted online in English and Spanish Oct. 19-25 among 2,787 registered voters. Pollsters estimated a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.

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