California Governor Race Polls Show Tight Three-Way Contest Ahead of Primary Election
LOS ANGELES (May 15, 2025) – Recent statewide surveys indicate a highly competitive contest in the California governor race polls, with three leading candidates separated by a narrow margin of statistical error less than four weeks before the June primary. According to a new poll released Tuesday by the Public Policy Institute of California, Democratic candidate Rebecca Sanchez holds 28 percent support, followed by Republican challenger David Chen at 26 percent and Independent contender Maria Torres at 24 percent. The remaining 22 percent of likely voters remain undecided or favor other minor candidates. Analysts attribute the close figures to shifting voter priorities on housing affordability, homelessness, and climate policy. A separate survey from Emerson College shows similar results within a plus-or-minus 3.5 percentage point margin of error. The primary election, scheduled for June 7, will determine which candidates advance to the November general election under California’s top-two system. Campaigns on all sides have intensified advertising efforts in major media markets, including Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Sacramento, over the past week. Political science professor Michael Harrington of Stanford University noted, “These California governor race polls underscore a deeply fractured electorate, where no single candidate has yet secured a commanding lead. The outcome hinges heavily on turnout and late-deciding voters.” The next major round of polling is expected in early June.