Becerra, Steyer jostle for front-runner status in ‘fluid’ California governor’s race

Former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra and billionaire Tom Steyer are jostling for Democratic front-runner status in the primary race for governor of California after former Rep. Eric Swalwell (D) dropped out amid sexual assault allegations. 

The candidates were among four Democrats who faced off in a debate this week, along with two Republicans. None of the contenders has taken a significant lead in polls, but political strategists say Steyer and Becerra have seen the biggest post-Swalwell bump. 

Steyer won the backing of the powerful California Teachers Association, which previously endorsed Swalwell, and the support of Betty Yee, who suspended her bid last week and further winnowed the race. 

Becerra notched key endorsements from state lawmakers and saw his prospects rise sharply in polling after Swalwell’s exit.

With about a month until the Golden State’s nonpartisan primary, more debates and potential big-name endorsements loom as Democrats ramp up calls to coalesce support and avoid the possibility of two Republicans advancing from the unique, top-two contest. 

“The race is beginning to crystallize with those two at the top,” said David McCuan, a Sonoma State University politics professor. “I think it’s Becerra and Steyer. The Becerra bump is real.” 

This past week’s debate was the first since Swalwell dropped out amid allegations of sexual misconduct and assault from five women, which he has denied. He’d been leading other Democrats in some recent polling, and his exit widened the path for other Democrats, particularly Becerra, a fellow moderate. 

In the latest Emerson College Polling/Inside California Politics survey, taken just after Swalwell’s exit and ahead of the debate, Republican Steve Hilton was leading the field with 17 percent, followed by rival GOP contender Chad Bianco and Steyer, tied at 14 percent each. Former Rep. Katie Porter (D-Calif.), who had been the front-runner last year before hitting snags, tied with Becerra at 10 percent each.  

Becerra, who had been stuck in single digits before Swalwell’s exit, is “now the Democratic frontrunner, or at least a co-frontrunner” with Steyer, said California Democratic strategist Garry South. 

The pair were tied at 13 percent each in........

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