Gavin Newsom’s allies mulling dark horse governor candidate who’s suddenly seen huge spike in polls
By Titus Wu
Published on April 19, 2026.
California Governor Gavin Newsom's team is reportedly considering backing Xavier Becerra as the next governor after he saw a significant increase in polls following Eric Swalwell's downfall. Recent polling shows Becerara's popularity increasing by up to 10%, a significant boost from where he trailed in the low single digits of around 4 to 5%. Longtime allies of Newsom, including Courtni Pugh, Lindsey Cobia, and Jason Elliott, had initially supported Swallwell's campaign but changed their stance when allegations of sexual assault against Swalworth surfaced. Despite this, some Newsom allies are now considering backing Beceerra. The governor has made an effort to not play favorites in the race and has expressed confidence in voters' choice of choice between him and the other candidates.
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