<p>A new poll sponsored by the California Democratic Party shows two Republican candidates still leading the governor’s race, increasing pressure on Democrats to consolidate their support or risk being shut out of the November general election.</p>
<p><a href="https://cadem.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/4.7.26-CA-Voter-Index-Tracking-Survey-I-Topline.pdf">The EVITARUS poll</a>, released Tuesday, April 7, has Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco and conservative commentator Steve Hilton each receiving 14% of likely voters.</p>
<p>April&#8217;s poll mostly mirrors the <a href="https://cadem.org/cadem-chair-rusty-hicks-releases-new-california-voter-index-poll-results/">Democratic Party&#8217;s March survey</a>, with Hilton slipping two points to tie with Bianco.</p>
<p>Bay Area Congressman Eric Swalwell (D-CA) leads the Democratic field with 12% of the vote, with billionaire environmental activist Tom Steyer right behind at 11%. Former Orange County Congresswoman Katie Porter (D-CA) is winning 7%. The four other Democratic candidates each hold 4% of the vote or less.</p>
<p>24% of voters remain undecided.</p>
<p>The poll surveyed 1,200 likely California primary voters between March 31 and April 5, well before President Trump endorsed Steve Hilton.</p>
<p>“Steve can turn it around, before it is too late, and, as President, I will help him to do so!” Trump said. “With Federal help, and a Great Governor, like Steve Hilton, California can be better than ever before!”</p>
<p>Bianco criticized the endorsement in <a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DWzXeNHEpY9/?hl=en">a post</a> on social media Monday.</p>
<p>“For too long, politicians and insiders from Sacramento to Washington have tried to pick our leaders for us,” Bianco said. “That’s not leadership. That’s a coronation. And it&#8217;s exactly how we ended up with the failed leadership Californians are living with today.&#8221;</p>
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<p>The Hilton campaign celebrated the MAGA endorsement.</p>
<p>&#8220;With President Trump’s full backing and federal support, we are going to take California back and make it better than ever before,&#8221; the campaign wrote.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP JUST GAVE STEVE HILTON HIS COMPLETE &amp; TOTAL ENDORSEMENT FOR GOVERNOR OF CALIFORNIA! 🇺🇸</p>
<p>In his powerful statement, President Trump said:</p>
<p>“I have known and respected Steve Hilton… for many years. He is a truly fine man… Steve can turn it around, before… <a href="https://t.co/gZnuOeH80y">pic.twitter.com/gZnuOeH80y</a></p>
<p>— Steve Hilton For Governor (@TeamSteveHilton) <a href="https://twitter.com/TeamSteveHilton/status/2041036642925113671?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 6, 2026</a></p></blockquote>
<p>If Republican voters consolidate behind Hilton, a &#8216;<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-makes-california-pick-and-little-known-primary-rule-could-change-everything">Democratic lockout</a>&#8216; appears less likely. Under the jungle primary system, the top two vote-getters advance to the November general election.</p>
<p>A majority of respondents &#8212; 51% &#8212; said California is on the wrong track, a point the president raised in his <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116356081038721731">Truth Social endorsement</a>.</p>
<p>&#8220;Gavin Newscum and the Democrats have done an absolutely horrendous job. People are fleeing, crime is increasing, and Taxes are the highest of any State in the Country, maybe the World,&#8221; Trump said.</p>
<p>California’s primary election is set for June 2, 2026.</p>


California Primary Candidates

Dems Face Even More Pressure As Republicans Lead In Critical Governor’s Race

California

Chad Bianco

Democrats

Eric Swalwell

Gavin Newsom

governor

Katie Porter

Poll

steve hilton

Trump

<p>Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday signed legislation expanding the state&#8217;s counterterrorism powers, allowing a handful of officials to issue domestic terror designations and implement restrictions on Sharia law.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.flhouse.gov/Sections/Bills/billsdetail.aspx?BillId=84224&amp;SessionId=113">HB 1471</a> prohibits Florida courts from enforcing foreign or religious law that conflicts with the U.S. Constitution and blocks foreign judgments, contracts, or legal provisions that attempt to bypass those protections.</p>
<p>The legislation also requires disciplinary action, including expulsion, for students who &#8220;promote terrorist violence&#8221; and allows state institutions to lose funding for violating the law&#8217;s provisions.</p>
<p>&#8220;To uphold the rule of law, our state must operate under one legal system, the Constitution must remain the law of the land, and we must defend our institutions from those who would harm us—especially terrorist organizations that seek to infiltrate and subvert our education system,&#8221; <a href="https://x.com/GovRonDeSantis/status/2041273577157136463?s=20">DeSantis said on X. </a></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">To uphold the rule of law, our state must operate under one legal system, the Constitution must remain the law of the land, and we must defend our institutions from those who would harm us—especially terrorist organizations that seek to infiltrate and subvert our education… <a href="https://t.co/dyUHJCnBux">pic.twitter.com/dyUHJCnBux</a></p>
<p>— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) <a href="https://twitter.com/GovRonDeSantis/status/2041273577157136463?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 6, 2026</a></p></blockquote>
<p>Under the law, a top official at the Florida Department of Law Enforcement can designate a group as a domestic or foreign terrorist organization, subject to approval by the governor and members of his cabinet, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/desantis-florida-terrorist-groups-free-speech-0b5dfb47052a17168919a3ce3c80dead">according to the Associated Press</a>.</p>
<p>The measure passed both chambers of the state legislature mostly along party lines.</p>
<p>Florida&#8217;s bill follows a recent legal battle over DeSantis&#8217;s designation of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), a controversial Muslim civil rights group, as a terrorist organization. On March 5, U.S. District Judge Mark E. Walker <a href="https://www.cair.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/DeSantis-Order-Granting-PI.pdf">issued a preliminary injunction</a> blocking the order.</p>
<p>Sharia law represents the religious legal system and moral code of Islam, which derives mostly from the teachings of the Quran and the Prophet Muhammad. Many Muslim-majority countries apply aspects of Sharia law to their legal frameworks, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Pakistan, and Iran, <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/smart-facts/what-shariah-law-n859981">according to NBC News. </a></p>
<p>The Sunshine State follows other conservative-led states in enacting anti-Sharia legislation. <a href="https://belonging.berkeley.edu/islamophobia/anti-muslim-legislation-map">A University of California, Berkeley analysis</a> finds that at least 13 states, mostly located in the South, have passed and implemented anti-Sharia laws between 2010 and 2020.</p>
<p>In November 2025, President Donald Trump signed an <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/11/designation-of-certain-muslim-brotherhood-chapters-as-foreign-terrorist-organizations-and-specially-designated-global-terrorists/">executive order</a> designating the Muslim Brotherhood as a foreign terrorist organization.</p>
<p>&#8220;We have a responsibility to defend and reinvigorate Western Civilization, and that means protecting against creeping sharia in all its forms,&#8221; DeSantis <a href="https://x.com/RonDeSantis/status/2041286700140257368?s=20">said in a social media post. </a></p>
<p>CAIR&#8217;s Florida chapter decried the legislation as &#8220;draconian&#8221; and &#8220;blatantly unconstitutional.&#8221;</p>
<p>&#8220;By empowering the Governor’s cabinet with new powers to designate his political opponents as terrorists without due process using secret evidence, these bills flout the basic notions of justice that all Americans expect from their government,&#8221; CAIR-Florida Interim Executive Director Hiba Rahim <a href="https://cairflorida.org/press/cair-florida-condemns-draconian-police-state-bills-awaiting-gov-desantis-signature/">said</a>.</p>
<p>The law is set to take effect on July 1.</p>


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Jacob Wheeler

Dems Face Even More Pressure As Republicans Lead In Critical Governor’s Race

Red State Slams Door On Sharia Law, Ramps Up Fight Against Domestic Terrorism