Summary:
Former Democratic California Rep. Katie Porter has seen a significant drop in her lead for the 2026 California governor’s race, according to a recent Berkeley Institute of Government Studies poll. Republican Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco has now taken the lead, with Porter falling from 17% to 11% support. Bianco’s rise comes amid Porter’s declining favorability and criticism of California Governor Gavin Newsom. The poll highlights shifting voter sentiment and the potential implications for California’s political landscape.
What This Means for You:
- Voters should closely monitor the evolving race as it underscores growing dissatisfaction with current leadership and key policy issues like crime and taxpayer spending.
- Candidates need to focus on bipartisan appeal, as Porter’s dismissal of Trump voters has alienated a significant portion of the electorate.
- Undecided voters, who make up 44% of the poll, will play a decisive role in shaping the outcome, emphasizing the importance of inclusive messaging.
- California’s political scene may see increased polarization, with candidates like Bianco positioning themselves as alternatives to progressive policies.
Original Post:
Former Democratic California Rep. Katie Porter slipped six points in the state’s 2026 governor’s race, according to a Berkeley Institute of Government Studies poll released Friday, showing Republican Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco now leading.
Porter, who had been the frontrunner in polls since August, fell from 17 percent to 11 percent, while Bianco climbed from 10 percent to 13 percent. The IGS poll included six other Democrats, but none received more than 3 percent support besides former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.
Becerra came in third with 8 percent, dropping one point since August, followed by Republican candidate Steve Hilton, who rose two points to also reach 8 percent. Meanwhile, 5 percent of voters said they’d back another candidate and 44 percent remained undecided.
Among those surveyed, 23 percent viewed Bianco favorably, 26 percent unfavorably, and 51 percent had no opinion. Porter’s favorability stood at 26 percent, with 33 percent viewing her unfavorably and 41 percent expressing no opinion.
In response to the new data, Bianco told the Daily Caller News Foundation that California constituents “need a sheriff” as he called out Democrat California Gov. Gavin Newsom for wasting taxpayer dollars.
“Sacramento is home to more crime than any other city due to Gavin Newsom and his enablers stealing from Californians,” Bianco told the Daily Caller News Foundation.
“They are spending billions to fund government programs for illegal immigrants, fund political power g[r]abs, building a new temple to government with little to no oversight, and in the meantime, there is no money for first responders, families trying to rebuild their lives, or tax relief for families,” Bianco added. “Californians need a Sheriff as their next Governor to restore sanity in Sacramento.”
The poll follows a string of negative headlines for Porter, including viral clips snapping at a reporter and former staffers.
An interview with CBS News California’s Julie Watts went viral on Oct. 7 after Porter walked out when asked how she planned to reach the 40 percent of state voters who supported President Donald Trump, curtly responding that she didn’t “need” Trump voters “in order to win.”
Watts attempted to challenge Porter about the point, but the former Democratic representative began snapping back repeatedly. Porter eventually said she was ending the interview, adding she was no longer having a “pleasant, positive conversation.”
Just a day later, Politico published a resurfaced 2021 video showing Porter yelling at a staffer during an online conversation with then-Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm, shouting, “Get out of my f***ing shot” while filming.
Porter did not respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment.
The IGS poll was conducted online in English and Spanish from Oct. 20–27 among 8,141 registered California voters. IGS collected the data by distributing email and text message invitations to stratified random samples of the state’s registered voters. The sample has a margin of error of roughly +/- 2 percentage points at the 95 percent confidence level.
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Extra Information:
Berkeley IGS Poll Methodology – Details on how the poll was conducted and its reliability.
Katie Porter’s Campaign Challenges – Analysis of Porter’s recent struggles and their impact on the race.
Chad Bianco’s Critique of Newsom – Insights into Bianco’s campaign strategy and policy focus.
People Also Ask About:
- Who is leading the California governor’s race in 2026? Chad Bianco currently leads with 13% support.
- Why is Katie Porter’s campaign struggling? Porter has faced negative headlines and declining favorability.
- What are Chad Bianco’s main campaign issues? He focuses on crime, taxpayer spending, and government oversight.
- How reliable is the Berkeley IGS poll? The poll has a margin of error of +/- 2 percentage points.
- What percentage of voters are undecided? 44% of voters remain undecided, making them a key demographic.
Expert Opinion:
The shifting dynamics in California’s governor’s race highlight the growing divide between progressive and conservative policies, with undecided voters holding the power to shape the state’s political future. Voter dissatisfaction with current leadership underscores the need for candidates to address bipartisan concerns effectively.
Key Terms:
- California governor’s race 2026
- Katie Porter campaign struggles
- Chad Bianco Riverside Sheriff
- Berkeley IGS poll results
- California voter sentiment analysis
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