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Swalwell, Porter Lead Democrats as California Governor Race Remains Fluid, Poll Shows

The latest Emerson/Inside California Politics poll shows Rep. Eric Swalwell (12%) and former Rep. Katie Porter (11%) leading among Democrats in California’s governor’s race, with Porter holding a 6-point favorability edge. Republican Chad Bianco tops the overall field at 13%, and a significant 31% of voters remain undecided. California’s nonpartisan primary is next June; the top two finishers, regardless of party, will advance to November.

10:00 PM, 12/04/2025Politics

New Emerson/Inside California Politics Poll

A recent Emerson College Polling survey for Inside California Politics finds Rep. Eric Swalwell and former Rep. Katie Porter atop the Democratic field in California’s crowded race for governor. Swalwell, a recent entrant, draws 12% support among Democrats, while Porter polls at 11%.

Porter retains a stronger personal image: her favorability rating leads Swalwell’s by six percentage points. On the Republican side, former Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco tops the overall field with 13%, followed by GOP candidate Steve Hinton at 12%.

Undecided Voters and the Primary

Notably, 31% of voters say they remain undecided, underscoring how open the contest remains months before California’s June nonpartisan primary. Under California’s system, the top two vote-getters — regardless of party — will advance to the November general election.

Other Candidates and Context

Other contenders in the poll include former Los Angeles mayor Antonio Ramón Villaraigosa at 5%, former HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra at 4%, and philanthropist and former presidential candidate Tom Steyer at 4%. All seven named candidates are vying to replace Gov. Gavin Newsom (D), who is ineligible to run again because of term limits.

Porter was briefly viewed as an early frontrunner after entering the race in March, but her standing cooled after video clips circulated raising questions about her conduct—one showing her ending an interview when asked about appealing to Trump voters, and another showing her scolding a staffer on set.

Voter Preferences And Issues

Looking ahead to next year’s primary, 56.7% of registered voters say they plan to vote in the Democratic primary, 33.9% plan to vote in the Republican primary, and 9.4% do not plan to participate. Respondents identified the economy as the most important issue facing the state, followed by affordability and concerns about threats to democracy.

Methodology

The survey was conducted Dec. 1–2 with a sample of 1,000 active registered California voters and carries a margin of error of ±3 percentage points. The poll was fielded by Emerson College Polling for Inside California Politics.

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