A new poll released by UC Berkeley’s Institute of Governmental Studies on Friday shows Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom leading the 2018 governor’s race with 26 percent of support among likely voters.
The online poll, which was conducted by YouGov in English and Spanish between August 27 to September 5, has a margin of error of 4% for the candidates and 6% for the issues identified in the crowded race, according to the San Jose Mercury News.
Newsom’s number has improved by four points since the last Berkeley IGS poll in May, which had him at 22 percent among likely voters.
Former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, also a Democrat, is in second place with 10 percent; down seven points since the previous poll.
According to the poll, Republican San Diego businessman John Cox was favored by 11 percent of likely voters and Orange County Assemblyman Travis Allen (R-Huntington Beach) by 9 percent.
The other two Democrats in the race are Treasurer John Chiang, a long shot who recently received an endorsement from Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA), and former state schools superintendent Delaine Eastin.
However, at least one-third of likely voters are reportedly still undecided as to who they will vote for during June 5, 2018 primary.
In April, Allen officially became the sixth candidate — and second Republican — to enter the Democrat-heavy gubernatorial race. Allen’s aim is to “Take Back California.”
According to the Mercury News, “Newsom’s supporters ranked their top priorities as healthcare policies (80 percent), followed by climate change (71 percent), environmental policies (67 percent) and the economy and jobs (also 67 percent).”
As for Villaraigosa, his supporters were reportedly most concerned with the economy and jobs (at 83 percent), followed by health care (at 76 percent), then race relations (64 percent), immigration, and policies affecting undocumented immigrants and housing (both at 60 percent).
Conversely, voters backing Allen and Cox had a different set of issues as their priorities, namely crime and law enforcement; immigration and policies affecting undocumented immigrants; and state spending policies, the Mercury News notes.
Villaraigosa leads all candidates among Latino voters.
In August, Rep. Karen Bass (D-CA) endorsed Villaraigosa’s gubernatorial bid, potentially boosting his vote among African Americans and minorities.
According to the United States Census Bureau, African American and black voters make up approximately 6.5 percent of California’s population. Hispanics and Latinos make up 38.9, percent and Asians make up 14.8 percent.
Adelle Nazarian is a politics and national security reporter for Breitbart News. Follow her on Facebook and Twitter.
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