Poll: Five candidates for California governor are in a "statistical dead heat"

"Three months out from the June primary, the top two slots in the gubernatorial race are up for grabs. How each candidate will tackle the state's affordability crisis and the cost of living was 'very important' to 61% of likely voters - and even more so to residents under the age of 35, renters and those making under $40,000 a year."

"The Public Policy Institute of California released its latest statewide survey this week which found five candidates are essentially in a 'statistical dead heat' among likely voters. The poll placed Republican former Fox News host Steve Hilton in the lead at 14%, followed by former Democratic Rep. Katie Porter at 13%, Republican Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco at 12%, Democratic East Bay Rep. Eric Swalwell at 11% and billionaire philanthropist Tom Steyer at 10%."

"Voters feel hammered by cost-of-living realities, so affordability will be a defining issue for them. Those results largely fall within the survey's margin of error of 3.1 percentage points, effectively putting the frontrunners in a tie, and mirror other recent independent polls."

The race to succeed Governor Gavin Newsom remains wide open with five candidates essentially tied in polling. The Public Policy Institute of California survey conducted February 3-11 shows Republican Steve Hilton leading at 14%, followed by Democrat Katie Porter at 13%, Republican Chad Bianco at 12%, Democrat Eric Swalwell at 11%, and Democrat Tom Steyer at 10%. These results fall within the margin of error, creating a statistical dead heat. An independent Emerson College poll shows similar competitive positioning. Three months before the June primary, the top positions remain contested. Voter priorities center on affordability and cost-of-living solutions, with 61% of likely voters considering this very important. The issue resonates particularly strongly among younger voters, renters, and lower-income residents, making it potentially decisive in determining the next governor.

Read at The Mercury News