SWALWELL CAMPAIGN FOR GOVERNOR RELEASES INTERNAL POLL SHOWING LEAD AMONG DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES
Swalwell Continues to Build Support from Likely Voters as Momentum Grows
LOS ANGELES, CA— A new polling memo from EMC Research shows Congressman Eric Swalwell continues to lead all Democratic candidates ahead of the gubernatorial primary on June 2. As Swalwell campaigns across the state, his message of tackling the affordability crisis and taking on Trump is resonating with likely voters.
Swalwell continues to lead the field of Democrats. The initial vote among likely June voters statewide shows:
Chad Bianco: 21%
Eric Swalwell: 18%
Steve Hilton: 17%
Katie Porter: 12%
Tom Steyer: 9%
Xavier Becerra: 6%
Matt Mahan: 5%
Antonio Villaraigosa: 3%
Betty Yee: 2%
Butch Ware: 2%
Tony Thurmond: 1%
Source: EMC Research, Inc., February 2026
Swalwell has a double-digit lead among registered Democrats, one-in-three (32%) initially support Swalwell, while the next closest candidate, Katie Porter, trails with support from just one-in-five (20%). Other candidates receive less than half of Swalwell’s support.
Swalwell is also the most popular candidate among registered Democrats. With this group, Swalwell is the most favorably rated candidate (67% favorable) and holds the strongest net favorable rating (+54) of the candidates tested.
“With just 12 weeks until Californians begin to vote, Congressman Swalwell is in the best position to make the Top Two. His strong message of building a more affordable California for all, while fighting President Trump continues to move likely June primary voters in his direction,” said Micah Beasley, a campaign spokesperson. “Eric is championing the urgent need to help California’s working families as he works to connect with voters across the state. The campaign continues to build momentum with a statewide network of support that will lead to victory.”
The poll memo can be viewed here.
EMC Research surveyed: 1,400 likely June 2026 Primary voters in California. Interviews were collected via text-to-web and email-to-web methodologies from January 29 – February 4, 2026. The survey was offered in English and Spanish, and has an overall margin of error ±2.6.
ABOUT CA GOVERNOR’S RACE
Eric Swalwell’s campaign for Governor reported raising $3 million in just six weeks since announcing the campaign on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on November 20, 2025.
Two recent polls — from the highly regarded polling firm FM3 Research and Emerson College Polling — show that Swalwell quickly emerged as a frontrunner for Governor. He eclipsed former U.S. Senate candidate and Congresswoman Katie Porter and the other Democratic candidates.
According to Politico on December 17, “Democratic voters prefer Swalwell (30 percent) to Porter (21 percent)” in the FM3 poll conducted November 30-December 7 among those likely to vote in June 2026. And the Emerson College Polling survey showed Swalwell quickly surged to the lead in the crowded field of candidates.
Swalwell has coalesced early support from his colleagues. U.S. Representative Jimmy Gomez (D-Los Angeles) serves as the Campaign Chair, and Reps. Nanette Barragan, Adam Gray, Doris Matsui, Kevin Mullin, Jimmy Panetta, Dr. Raul Ruiz and Mike Thompson, have endorsed Swalwell — in addition to local elected officials across the state.
Swalwell, who represents California’s 14th Congressional District in the East Bay, has pledged to be a “fighter and protector” for California, focusing on affordability, economic growth and modernizing state government so it works better for everyone.
Current Governor Gavin Newsom is termed out in 2026, leaving this an open seat and a wide open race. Congressman Eric Swalwell is the only candidate currently in Congress and the only one actively standing up to Trump. The Primary Election is June 2, 2026.
ABOUT ERIC SWALWELL
Eric Swalwell was raised in Dublin, California, by a police officer father and a small business owner mother. The oldest of four sons, he worked paper routes and construction jobs before earning a Division I soccer scholarship and becoming the first in his family to attend college. After serving as an Alameda County prosecutor — where he led the Hate Crimes Unit — Swalwell was elected to the Dublin City Council, then to Congress in 2012. In the House, he has served on the House Intelligence Committee and currently serves on the House Judiciary and Homeland Security Committees, and is the Ranking Member on both the Subcommittee on Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection and the Judiciary Select Subcommittee on January 6. He and his wife, Brittany, are raising their three young children under the age of 9.
Website: www.EricSwalwell.com
Twitter / Instagram / Threads: @EricSwalwell
Press Contact: [email protected]
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