Democratic Gov. Jerry Brown is coasting to a historic fourth term with record-high approval ratings, and the ballot measures that he has made the centerpiece of his reelection bid — a water bond and a rainy-day fund — are also supported by a majority of likely voters, according to a new USC Dornsife/Los Angeles Times poll.
Republicans nationwide appear poised for major victories on Tuesday, but California once again is an outlier, with Democrats likely to maintain their iron grip on Sacramento. The party’s candidates led their GOP rivals in every statewide contest, the poll found.
The closest race was the near dead heat to be the state’s nonpartisan schools chief. The incumbent, State Supt. of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson, had a slim edge — 32% to 29% — among likely voters over former charter school executive Marshall Tuck.
But 28% of voters remained undecided in the contest, which pits Democrat against Democrat and has become the most expensive for the statewide offices this year. More than $30 million has been spent on what is typically a sleepy race, as Torlakson benefits from his support among organized labor and Tuck from wealthy donors who want to overhaul the state’s schools.
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