Frontrunners for California governor make last-minute campaign stops in Southern California

Some big races are at stake in Tuesday’s election, including the primary to see which two candidates for California governor will make it to the November general election.

Things have wildly changed since candidates first began joining the race. Long ago, Katie Porter was the frontrunner. After some not-so-flattering videos emerged, Porter is now in 5th place, polling in the single digits. Eric Swalwell was the next frontrunner, but he has since dropped out of the race after sexual misconduct allegations were made. When that happened, Xavier Becerra surged to the front, and that is where he remains, along with Republican Steve Hilton and billionaire Democrat Tom Steyer.

“Talking to some UCLA undergrads in this incredibly beautiful place with some very diverse, turned-on, positive kids. How could I not love doing this?” Democratic Candidate Tom Steyer said as he spent his final full day of campaigning for governor in Westwood, speaking with students at UCLA. “I am optimistic as hell for you. And I’m going to work my ass off to make sure that comes true.”

The billionaire peppered his answers with several swear words and faced questions about spending $200 million of his own money in this campaign.

“You’re right. My first name for the last year has been billionaire, and a lot of people are very offended by that, and I understand that,” he said. “I’m the only billionaire on the ballot, but not the only billionaire in this race, because there are a lot of billionaires who think they know how to make this race turn out the way they want it.”

On Monday night, Steyer campaigned at a Pride event in West Hollywood.

“I am the person saying, ‘I am going to work to lower costs and fight for working-class Californians every single day,”‘ Steyer said. “It seems to me like this is a critical moment in California’s history, so everybody needs to step up and use their vote and make their voices be heard.”

“We are not going to let a billionaire or Trump’s hand-picked candidate take over this state,” former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra said at a rally in Long Beach on Sunday night.

Becerra went hard after Steyer’s self-funding, while touting his own working-class roots.

“We are not going to let them buy an election. And we are not going to step aside while they dismantle the dream my mother and my father believed in when they came to California with those $12,” Becerra said.

On the Republican side, there is a very real possibility that they may be shut out of the General Election in November.

The leading Republican, Steve Hilton, asked that Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco drop out of the race and join his effort to win the office.

Bianco responded with a post on social media, writing, “It’s clear that Steve Hilton supporters should unite and support me. While they’re at it, Becerra, Steyer, Porter, Mahan, Thurmond and Villaraigosa supporters should vote for me too.”

Hilton took to social media, saying they need to work together in order to win.

“Everyone who is supporting Chad, I honor and respect that decision, but we’ve got to be practical. There is now only one chance we have to stop the Democrats from taking both slots in the General, and that is to vote for me. Please do that tomorrow,” Hilton said.

President Trump issued a series of endorsements on Truth Social on Monday, including praise for Hilton, whom he had already endorsed earlier in his campaign.

“With our Administration, working alongside a Great Governor like Steve Hilton, California can be better than ever before. Steve Hilton has my COMPLETE AND TOTAL ENDORSEMENT!” Trump wrote.

The latest poll out on Monday has Bianco polling at 11% and Hilton in second place with 23%. That is where their overall averages are as well, which is why Hilton wants Bianco out of the race.

Steyer is averaging just three points behind Hilton at 20%. If the numbers change just a little bit, it could be Becerra versus Steyer in November, which would shut the Republicans out.