Poll: California Governor's Race Tightens

Two Democrats are in tight competition in California's governor's race in polling reported Thursday by Politico.

The Public Policy Institute of California reported that Antonio Villaraigosa, former Los Angeles mayor, has moved to within 2 points of longtime front-runner Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom.

Numerous polls had given Newson, the former mayor of San Francisco, a double-digit lead, Politico reported.

In the Public Policy Institute poll:

• 23 percent support Newsom.
• 21 percent support Villaraigosa.
• 24 percent were undecided.

Forty percent say they had favorable opinions of Newsom and Villaraigosa, and more than half said they had no opinion or had never heard of the other candidates, Politico reported.

In California's primary system, the two leading candidates, regardless of party affiliation, go to the November general election. The race is open because four-time Gov. Jerry Brown is term-limited.

Other challengers for the governorship are not within range of the top two, according to the survey:

• 9 percent support Democratic state Treasurer John Chiang.
• 8 percent support Republican Assemblyman Travis Allen.
• 7 percent support Republican businessman John Cox.
• 4 percent support Democrat Delaine Estin.
• 3 percent support Republican former Rep. Doug Ose.

The poll was conducted among 1,705 California residents from Jan. 21 to Jan. 30, Politico reported.

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