Poll shows one of these two Republicans may be poised to be next California governor

Chad Bianco and Steve Hilton.

According to a new poll out this week, two Republicans are leading the race to become the next governor of California. Voters in the Golden State will go to the polls in June for the primary, but if that vote were held today, the poll suggests, Democrats would be shut out of advancing to the November general election.

The two Republicans who topped the poll are Steve Hilton, a small business owner and former Fox News host, who drew 17% of support in the survey, conducted by the Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies. Right behind Hilton with 16% was Chad Bianco, the sheriff of Riverside County.

Their lead over the top Democrats in the poll was not huge, but it is significant because the top two finishers in the June primary advance to the November general election, while everyone else is out. That means voters could end up having a choice of two Republicans to be next governor, all but ensuring a Republican will take control after Gavin Newsom's term ends. 

Former Congressman Eric Swalwell and former U.S. Rep. Katie Porter both tied for third place in the poll with 13% support, and billionaire Tom Steyer rounded out the top five with 10%, the poll showed.

According to Mark DiCamillo, director of polling at the Berkeley Institute of Governmental studies, told The Los Angeles Times that affordability "is the top issue for voters, both here in California and across the country. There's no question. Perhaps it's even of greater urgency here in California, just given our cost of living is higher than in most other places."

Still, Republicans have some difficult math to overcome for one of their own to win the gubernatorial race. There are nearly two registered Democrat voters in the state for every one voter registered as a Republican. Plus, the poll also found that 16% of California voters remain undecided. 

The last Republican to be governor of California was Arnold Schwarzenegger, who served two terms. "The Governator" as he was nicknamed finished his second term in 2011. Read the complete poll results here.