José Angel Gutiérrez ● Gubernatorial Update: Texas and California ● Our Voices/Nuestras Voces

Gubernatorial Update: Texas and California

José Angel Gutiérrez

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Voting has begun in California which allows mail-in ballots as well as Election Day. That Primary Election is June 2nd whereas the Texas Primary is days away on May 26th.

The leading Democrat for Governor in Texas is Gina Hinojosa. She will probably be the Democratic nominee, She is only trailing the incumbent 3-term Republican governor, Greg Abbott by single digits and closing the gap with each new poll. The University of Houston Hobby School of Public Affairs has her 7 points under Abbott. The University of Texas/ Texas Politics Project has her at a 6-point deficit. The Texas Public Opinion Research polls has her at 5-point deficit to Abbott while the . Her candidacy was greatly boosted by the surprise visit by former President Barak Obama. He has not endorsed her, clearly stating he is supporting her. In all polls she is getting strong support from Latinos, Blacks, Young voters between 18-24, and Independents. Even among Republicans, Abbott is still not getting over 48.3% approval. The Democrats have not held the Governor’s seat since 1994.

Over in California, Xavier Becerra has broken into the lead. At the last debate he was the target of all other candidates both Republican and Democrat. It seems to have helped him rather than hindered him. For months, Republican Steve Hilton who has been endorsed by President Trump has been leading the race with 17 points. In California, all candidates regardless of political party affiliations to run at once on the same ballot and column. The top two vote getters move into the General Election. For a few weeks, the only other Republican contender, Chad Bianco, was in the 2nd rung behind the top Democrat Tom Steyer at 12% in 3rd place. The Democrats were in panic mode that the top 2 would be the candidates for Governor.

Now, the Emerson College Poll shows Becerra has leaped frogged into the 1st place with 19% of those polled. He went up 9% from the first Emerson poll back in mid-April. Both Steve Hilton (R) and Tom Steyer ( D) are tied at 2nd with 17% each. Way down and probably out are Katie

Porter with 10% and Matt Mahan with 8%. There is still room for more change given that 12% of those last polled by Emerson were undecided.