Trump Backs Steve Hilton in Tight California Governor Race

Key Takeaways

• President Trump officially endorses Steve Hilton to replace outgoing Governor Newsom.
• Democrats fear a split vote could lock them out of the November election.
• Hilton cites one-party rule as the cause for high housing and gas prices.
• The top two candidates from the June 2 primary will face off in November.

President Donald Trump has thrown his support behind Republican Steve Hilton in the California governor's race, potentially shaking up a crowded contest to replace outgoing Gov. Gavin Newsom. This significant political move comes as the state prepares for its June 2 primary, where the top two vote-getters regardless of party will advance to November.

The endorsement was announced early Monday morning via a Truth Social post, where the President stated, "With Federal help, and a Great Governor, like Steve Hilton, California can be better than ever before!" He added that Hilton has his "COMPLETE & TOTAL ENDORSEMENT." Calling Hilton a "fine man" whom he has known and respected for many years, Trump highlighted the British immigrant's background as a former UK politician strategist. In response, Hilton's team posted a statement thanking the president, declaring, "With President Trump's full backing and federal support, we are going to take California back and make it better than ever before!"

The Steve Hilton campaign is now navigating a complex landscape involving Republican Sheriff Chad Bianco and a dozen other candidates. Hilton, a former Fox News host, is vying alongside eight major Democratic candidates to emerge from the June 2 primary. The primary system, which places the top two candidates on the November ballot, has raised concerns among Democrats about a potential split vote. Critics worry that the scattered field of Democratic candidates could allow two Republicans, Hilton and Bianco, to finish as the top vote-getters, effectively locking Democrats out of the general election in a state that has not elected a Republican governor in nearly two decades.

During a November interview with CNN's Elex Michaelson, Hilton blamed Democrats for the state's economic struggles. He argued that voters desire change and pointed to "15 years of one-party rule" as the cause for high housing costs and gas prices. Hilton asserted that working families can barely afford to pay bills and that the state suffers from high unemployment, attributing these issues to "Democrat policies, not Donald Trump." He used this platform to defend the President's record while positioning himself as a viable alternative for working families.

Hilton's political resume includes significant experience in the United Kingdom. According to his campaign website, he attended Oxford University and began his career working on the Conservative Party during the tenure of former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. After building a career in business, he returned to politics, serving as a senior adviser to former UK Prime Minister David Cameron. He moved to California in 2012, bringing his international perspective to the state's domestic challenges.

As the primary date approaches, the dynamics of the California governor race remain fluid. The Donald Trump endorsement serves as a major inflection point, potentially consolidating conservative voters behind Hilton against Sheriff Bianco and the Democratic field. The outcome of the June 2 primary will determine the trajectory of the 2026 election, with the state's future hinging on whether the Democratic vote remains unified or fractures under the pressure of a multi-candidate field.

Hilton's Strategy Drives California Primary Focus

The combination of a high-profile national endorsement and Hilton's specific policy critiques of one-party rule creates a unique dynamic for the upcoming primary. If the Democratic field remains fragmented as current analysis suggests, the top two finishers could be Hilton and Bianco, altering the political landscape for years. Hilton's strategy relies heavily on portraying his experience and the President's backing as a solution to long-standing economic grievances. The next phase of the campaign will likely see intensified focus on whether the Democratic party can consolidate its support or if the internal divisions will allow the Republican candidate to bypass the traditional barrier of a Democratic incumbent in a blue state.