Steve Hilton is out in front in the latest David Binder poll for California’s chaotic 2026 jungle primary.
The Republican contender clocks in at 27 percent among likely voters, edging out Democrat Xavier Becerra at 26 percent and fellow Democrat Tom Steyer at 22 percent. Lower-tier candidates like Katie Porter and others trail further back.
This is a dagger in the heart of the Golden State’s Democrat machine. In a top-two jungle primary, Hilton is positioned to advance to the general election against whichever liberal survives the bloodbath. California hasn’t sent a Republican to the governor’s mansion in years, but voter frustration with crime, taxes, homelessness, and endless progressive failures is finally showing up in the numbers.
Hilton’s lead, even narrow, signals real momentum. Democrats are splintered and eating each other alive while a conservative outsider gains ground where it matters most. This is excellent news for Hilton and anyone tired of one-party rule in the nation’s largest state. The fight is on.
