A Field Poll released Saturday indicates that Republican Ashley Swearengin, the mayor of Fresno, leads the race for State Controller, garnering 28% of the support of likely voters, 9% ahead of her closest rival.
However, the combined total of the second- and third-place candidates, Board of Equalization member Betty Yee and Assembly Speaker John Perez–both Democrats–is 33%, suggesting that Swearengin may face long future odds.
The poll was conducted among 1,000 registered and 504 likely voters in California. It comes on the heels of another Field Poll showing that Republican Pete Peterson leads the race for Secretary of State in the wake of the arrest of State Sen. Leland Yee, a Democrat who was contending for the post.
Some analysts have suggested that a slew of Democrat scandals could portend a revival of flagging Republican fortunes in the Golden State.
Photo: AP/Jacquelyn Martin