Democrat Katie Porter Falls Behind Outspoken GOP Candidate In Shocking California Poll

Former Democratic California Rep. Katie Porter slipped six points in the state’s 2026 governor’s race, according to a Berkeley Institute of Government Studies (IGS) poll released Friday, showing Republican Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco now leading.

Porter, the frontrunner in polls since August, fell from 17% to 11%, while Bianco climbed from 10% to 13%. The IGS poll included six other Democrats, but none received more than 3% support besides former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.

Becerra came in third with 8%, dropping one point since August, followed by Republican candidate Steve Hilton, who rose two points to also reach 8%. Meanwhile, 5% of voters said they’d back another candidate and 44% remained undecided.

Among those surveyed, 23% viewed Bianco favorably, 26% unfavorably and 51% had no opinion. Porter’s favorability stood at 26%, with 33% viewing her unfavorably and 41% expressing no opinion.

In response to the new data, Bianco told the 🏢Daily Caller News Foundation California constituents “need a sheriff” as he called out Democrat California Gov. Gavin Newsom for wasting tax payer dollars.

“Sacramento is home to more crime than any other city due to Gavin Newsom and his enablers stealing from Californians,” Bianco told the DCNF.