KATIE PORTER LEADS GOVERNOR’S RACE IN NEW POLL, SUPPORT GROWS WHEN VOTERS HEAR MORE ABOUT HER PLANS TO HOLD TRUMP & CORPORATIONS ACCOUNTABLE

A new poll shows Katie Porter remains the clear frontrunner among Democrats in the race for California governor, with her support growing once voters hear more about her plans to hold Donald Trump and corporations accountable. 

In the first poll to include the entire likely field, Katie again outpaces other Democrats with 14 percent of the vote, an enduring base of support. She leads the nearest Democratic candidate by 3 percent, a significant gap in a crowded field. 

Voters were then read a simple message about Katie’s work holding Trump and big corporations accountable, and her plans to bring down costs, which put her in first place in the race overall at 22 percent of the vote – 12 percentage points ahead of any other Democratic candidate. 

CandidateVote Share After Voters Hear One Simple Message
Katie Porter22%
Xavier Becerra4%
Antonio Villaraigosa2%
Tom Steyer7%
Eric Swalwell10%
Tony Thurmond1%
Matt Mahan2%
Steve Hilton18%
Chad Bianco17%
Not sure16%

Since joining the race just nine months ago, Katie has raised more than $6.1 million—more than any other candidate during that time period. She’s received her contributions from more than 59,000 grassroots donors who power our campaign because Katie won’t accept a dime from corporations—the only candidate in this race besides a self-funding billionaire to do so.

The poll, conducted by Public Policy Polling from January 20-21, 2026, surveyed 1,001 California voters and has a margin of error of 2.9 percent.

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