Democrat Xavier Becerra is leading the California governor’s race, according to a new poll. The Public Policy Institute of California’s survey shows that Becerra has strong voter backing, with 61% of likely voters supporting him over Republican Steve Hilton, who has 36%. The poll, released Wednesday night, has a central focus on climate change and environmental policies.
This survey reveals that Californians largely support efforts to protect the environment and cut emissions, although there is a notable opposition to building data centers for AI technology. The poll indicates that Becerra benefits from the fact that Democratic voters significantly outnumber Republicans in California. The GOP has not won a statewide election since 2008. Only 2% of likely voters remain undecided, with most independents leaning towards Becerra.
“Instead of a 36-year career politician, we need a positive, energetic problem-solver with business experience and plans to make our state ‘Califordable’ — that’s me,” Hilton said.
The poll’s findings resonate with data from a survey conducted before the June primary, in which Becerra was favored by 52% of voters. In a statement, Hilton characterized the race as open, despite his trailing numbers. On the other hand, Becerra’s camp remains optimistic, focusing on turning poll support into votes by November.
Environmental Law Reform and Proposition 45
Californians display strong support for Proposition 45, a ballot initiative to reform the California Environmental Quality Act. Nearly three-quarters of likely voters support this measure, which aims to speed up construction by shortening environmental review windows. This reform is popular across party lines, as it seeks to balance environmental priorities with infrastructure needs.
PPIC survey director Mark Baldassare commented on this alignment between California voters and Democratic candidates on environmental issues. However, the strong backing for Proposition 45 highlights the voters’ desire for development.
Opposition to Data Centers and Climate Policies
The poll finds broad opposition to creating new data centers for AI in California, with 44% of adults strongly against it and 29% somewhat opposed. This view transcends political affiliation and regions, especially prevalent in the Inland Empire, where a large data center project was halted due to resident opposition.
“Californians have weighed in and they share this growing concern,” Baldassare noted.
Regarding environmental efforts, three-quarters of adults view policies to reduce greenhouse gases positively, appreciating California’s independent environmental policies. However, only 38% express willingness to pay higher energy bills for renewable sources, reflecting concerns over rising energy costs.
Support for Newsom’s policy to ban new gas-powered vehicles by 2035 has decreased, with two-thirds opposing it now, a drop from the previous support of 49% in 2021. Although most likely voters approve of Newsom and the state Legislature’s environmental handling, Trump’s approval is lower at 28% due to his moves to reduce environmental regulations.
The survey interviewed 1,578 California adults, including 1,003 likely voters, with interviews conducted in English and Spanish from June 29 to July 6, and it carries a margin of error of 3.8 percentage points.