Here are the most recent reporting snapshots on California governor polling involving Xavier Becerra vs. Tom Steyer (as of late May 2026):
Latest poll headlines (Becerra vs. Steyer)
- May 5, 2026: An Emerson College Polling release reported Steyer leading Democrats at 14%, with Becerra surging to 10% and Katie Porter also at 10%.[1]
- Apr 15, 2026: Coverage of new polling said Becerra and Steyer were tied for the Democratic lead at 15% each, with Becerra up and Steyer also gaining in that survey.[3]
- Apr 29, 2026: A report on a governor race poll described Steyer at 15% and Becerra at 13%, with other candidates trailing.[4]
- May 13, 2026: Another Emerson/Inside California Politics poll was reported as showing Becerra taking a narrow lead over Steyer and Steve Hilton (i.e., Becerra edging into first in that Emerson snapshot).[5]
What these polls are broadly saying
- The Democratic vote is fragmented and moving, but recent survey stories repeatedly frame the “top two” fight as a tight race between Becerra and Steyer (with a separate Republican contender, Steve Hilton, also frequently close in the overall landscape).[3][4]
- Some of the late-April / early-May coverage emphasizes momentum shifts—for example, mentions of changes tied to other candidates exiting or campaign dynamics affecting the Democratic topline.[1][3]
If you tell me whether you want (a) statewide vote share numbers only, (b) “top-two” qualification odds, or (c) polling changes over time (trendlines), I can narrow this to just the most relevant recent polls and the exact figures they reported.
Sources
Under California law, the two highest vote getters in the June 2 primary, regardless of party affiliation, will go on to the Nov. 3 general election.
justthenews.comJust last week, Becerra trailed behind billionaire activist Tom Steyer who was maintaining the Democratic lead. New polls released Monday show that the two candidates are now tied, pointing to them as the Democratic frontrunners.
www.calonews.combecerra vs steyer polling showed California Democrats still undecided in the closing days before the June 2 primary as ballots kept going out from early May. Roughly 60 candidates were on one ballot under California’s top-two primary system, leaving voters to sort through a crowded field for Gavin N…
www.el-balad.comAs more undecided voters appear to be finding a candidate they like, and following some televised debates, a new poll finds billionaire Tom Steyer continuing to hold a lead among the Democrats, and only one point behind Republican Steve Hilton.
sfist.comChuck Rocha and Mike Madrid break down the seismic California Governor's race, where Xavier Becerra is surging despite being outspent 150-to-1 by billionaire Tom Steyer, who has already burned through $200 million, roughly $166 per vote. They unpack Steyer's undisclosed influencer campaign flooding Latino social media, what it means for the integrity of political messaging, and why Latino voters in California are rallying behind Xavier Becerra anyway. Plus: * Trump's cognitive decline - Can...
podimo.comBillionaire Tom Steyer is leading Democrats with 14% of the vote, followed by Becerra and former U.S. Rep Katie Porter tied at 10%.
www.calonews.comThe polls are all saying the same thing: there are only three viable candidates in the race for governor: Xavier Becerra, Steve Hilton and Tom Steyer.
www.calonews.comDespite more than $30 million spent on negative ads against him, Steyer has gained four points since late April, while Becerra has slipped from 21% to 19%. Bianco has fallen out of contention with just 12 percent support. “This poll confirms what we’re hearing on the ground across California: voters are looking for an outsider who will take on the political establishment to lower costs and deliver real change,” said Heather Hargreaves, Campaign Manager for Tom Steyer for Governor. “Xavier...
www.tomsteyer.com