Bombshell poll finds California voters say state is heading in the wrong direction but election numbers tell a different story

Democrat Xavier Becerra has opened up a commanding lead over Republican Steve Hilton in the race for California governor – despite Californians being so fed up with the direction of the Golden State that nearly half have seriously considered leaving.Becerra holds a 15.7-point lead over Hilton in the race to replace Gov.Gavin Newsom, 55% to 39.3%, with just 4.9% undecided, according to a new California Post poll conducted by McLaughlin & Associates.The former Biden administration official’s comfortable lead comes despite the survey also finding that 56.2% of voters believe the state — which has been under Democratic control since 2011 — is heading in the wrong direction.

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By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.Never miss a story Just 30.1% of the 800 voters surveyed between Oct.

17 and 20 said the state is on the right track, while a staggering 44% have seriously considered leaving the Golden State within the last four years.But despite their misgivings, Californians appear set to hand Democrats another four years in charge.“Voters are extremely partisan, and prefer one of their own to a Republican,” pollster John McLaughlin told The California Post.“They will vote for Becerra and hope for the best.”Political analyst Dan Schnur, who teaches at USC, UC Berkeley and Pepperdine, said California voters are just as frustrated as those elsewhere in the country, but don’t see Republicans as a viable alternative.“In most places, angry voters turn to the alternative,” Schnur told The Post.“Here in California, voters simply don’t see an alternative, so they grudgingly stick with what they’ve got.”McLaughlin said Becerra – who served as California’s attorney general before joining President Joe Biden’s Cabinet as health secretary – seems to have put enough...