Matt Mahan moves to boost sagging poll numbers in California free-for-all

Published March 25, 2026 7:00am ET



Long-shot Democratic gubernatorial candidate Matt Mahan, currently stuck polling in the low single digits, is centering his campaign on fiscal accountability and directly challenging California’s budget policies to stand out among the crowded field.

With less than two months to go before the June 2 primary election, Mahan’s well-funded campaign is failing to gain traction with voters. There are 10 candidates in the contest, eight Democrats and two Republicans. The Republicans are ahead in polls, including one commissioned by the state’s Democratic Party. As things stand, if the primary election were tomorrow, the two who would advance would be former Fox News host Steve Hilton and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, boxing out Democrats.

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