Xavier Becerra California Governor Runoff Enters Final Stretch as New Poll Shows Attorney General Surges Past Newsom Ally
A dramatic shift in the California governor's race has emerged today, with newly released polling data from the UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies revealing that former California Attorney General and U.S. Health Secretary Xavier Becerra has surged past Gavin Newsom’s handpicked successor in a stunning runoff showdown. The survey, conducted between March 1 and March 5, shows Becerra leading State Senator Toni Atkins 47% to 43% among likely voters, a reversal from last month when Atkins held a nine-point advantage. Political analysts attribute the swing to Becerra’s aggressive campaign focusing on healthcare affordability and wildfire resilience, which has resonated with moderate and independent voters in the Central Valley. However, fact-checkers have flagged a viral social media claim that Becerra “promised to lower gas prices to $2 a gallon by 2026.” No such statement appears in any official campaign materials or transcripts from his recent debates, and the origin appears to be a satirical account mimicking a news outlet. The real story here is that while Becerra has indeed gained ground, his actual proposals center on expanding Medi-Cal and streamlining disaster relief funding—not price controls at the pump. The runoff is set for April 15, with early voting already underway, and both campaigns are now bracing for a final week of intense ad spending.