Riverside sheriff Chad Bianco leads as Katie Porter slips in CA governor poll
BIANCO’S UP, PORTER SLIPS, UNDECIDEDS REMAIN
Via David Lightman…
Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, a Republican, leads a new Berkeley-IGS poll of gubernatorial candidates — but not by much.
The key finding of the survey is that 44% of voters are undecided on who should succeed Gov. Gavin Newsom, who can’t run for a third term.
“The results suggest that the governor’s race remains wide open; with many Democratic voters still far from decided. Now that Proposition 50 has passed, the candidates will need to now seize the opportunity to get voters’ attention,” said Eric Schickler, director of the Institute for Government Studies. Bianco leads the poll with 13%.
Former Rep. Katie Porter, a Democrat, has 11%.
No Republican has been elected statewide since2006.
Porter has slipped. She was leading Bianco, 17% to 10% in August, but a controversial television interview has cost her some backing.
Trailing this time are former Health and Human Services Director Democrat Xavier Becerra and Republican political commentator Steve Hilton, with 8%. Former Los Angeles Mayor and Democrat Antonio Villaraigosa had 5%, and none of the other candidates got more than 3%.
Some warning signs for Bianco: While he got 37% of GOP support, he received only 1% support from Democrats.
Porter is the top choice of Democrats, with 19%, but got 1% of Republicans.
The poll was taken in late October, surveying 8,141 registered voters.
BONTA GOES TO D.C.
Via David Lightman…
California Attorney General Rob Bonta visited the Capitol on Thursday to remind Washington lawmakers that a lot of people back in California are suffering from Trump administration policies.
He spoke at a hearing called by the House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee, which heard from people aligned with the party’s views.
Bonta said his office has sued President Donald Trump and his administration 46 times in 41 weeks.
“He’s broken the law more than once a week in ways that have hurt our states,” Bonta said.”
He cited several examples, involving Trump’s imposition of tariffs, policies on gender-affirming care, deployment of the National Guard and the recent lapse in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits
He decried the lack of Republican support. While Democratic attorneys general have joined lawsuits, GOP officials have not.
“They have allowed the president to do what he wants,” he said.
Last week, Bonta joined a lawsuit with other attorneys general against the administration over the SNAP program. Middle to low-income households in California can get an average benefit of $189 a month to help with their food supplies.
Some SNAP recipients in Sacramento County have begun to receive benefits following two federal court rulings ordering the administration to distribute the funds.
Bonta got a warm reception at the hearing. “We appreciate that you are setting forth the facts,” said House Minority Whip Katherine Clark, D-Mass.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“Sacramento is home to more crime than any other city due to Gavin Newsom and his enablers stealing from Californians. They are spending billions to fund government programs for illegal immigrants, fund political power grabs, building a new temple to government with little to no oversight, and in the meantime, there is no money for first responders, families trying to rebuild their lives, or tax relief.”
– Riverside Sheriff Chad Bianco, in a statement about his leading several recent polls.
BEST OF THE BEE
Shasta County runs into roadblocks reporting outstanding ballots via Kate Wolffe
Delays, cancellations at Sacramento airport as government shutdown effects spread via Ariane Lange
CA environmental leaders urge at-home action as Newsom attends global climate summit via Chaewon Chung and Lia Russell
This story was originally published November 10, 2025 at 4:55 AM.
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