Republican Governor in California?

President Trump is the “pivotal reason” why a Republican likely will finish in the top two in California’s nonpartisan gubernatorial primary and even has a fighting chance to become the next governor of the deep-blue state, according to a long-time observer of Sacramento politics.

John Cox, a businessman from Illinois, was endorsed by Trump last week, noted Ben Boychuk, a regular columnist with the Sacramento Bee newspaper, and is just behind former Democratic Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom and way ahead of the rest of the mostly Democratic pack, according to two recent statewide polls.

In California’s blanket primary system, the top two candidates go on to the general, regardless of party. A survey and electoral modeling by Competitive Edge Research & Communication, released Thursday, the San Diego Union-Tribune reported, shows Newsom with 26 percent and Cox with 22 percent.

Last week, Trump tweeted his endorsement of Cox, declaring “California finally deserves a great Governor, one who understands borders, crime and lowering taxes.” . . .

Boychuk wrote that while Democrat usually are the top two vote-getters in the governor’s race, this year could be different. (Read more from “Republican Governor in California?” HERE)

Follow Joe Miller on Twitter HERE and Facebook HERE.