Trump Endorses Steve Hilton in California Governor Race

Key Takeaways

• President Donald Trump publicly endorses Steve Hilton for California governor.
• Hilton faces a crowded field including sheriff Chad Bianco and eight Democrats.
• Democrats worry a split vote could lock them out of the general election.
• Hilton blames one-party rule for California's economic struggles.

President Donald Trump has officially thrown his support behind Republican Steve Hilton in the California governor's race, a move that potentially shakes up a crowded contest to replace outgoing Gov. Gavin Newsom. This endorsement was delivered via Truth Social early Monday morning, where the president wrote, "With Federal help, and a Great Governor, like Steve Hilton, California can be better than ever before!" He added that he has known and respected Hilton for many years, calling the British immigrant and former strategist a "fine man."

Hilton's campaign quickly responded to the announcement, thanking the president for his full backing and promising federal support. In a social media post, the campaign stated, "With President Trump's full backing and federal support, we are going to take California back and make it better than ever before!" This statement underscores the intensity of the upcoming June 2 primary, which utilizes a top-two system regardless of party affiliation.

The California governor race has become increasingly complex as Hilton vies for the nomination alongside Republican rival Chad Bianco, the sheriff of Riverside County. Furthermore, eight major Democratic candidates are also on the ballot, creating a fragmented field that Democrats fear could allow Republicans to secure the top two spots. This scenario would effectively lock Democrats out of the general election in November, a state they have not lost a gubernatorial election in nearly two decades. The concern among Democrats is that the scattered nature of their candidate pool might split the vote enough to benefit both Hilton and Bianco, despite the state's traditional leaning.

During an interview with CNN's Elex Michaelson in November, Hilton articulated his platform, blaming Democrats for the state's current economic challenges. He argued that high housing costs and gas prices are the direct result of "15 years of one-party rule." Hilton claimed that working families can barely afford to pay bills and that the state suffers from the highest unemployment, asserting these issues are the result of Democrat policies rather than actions taken by . His strategy involves making the case that voters in the state desperately want change, positioning himself as the alternative to the long-standing status quo.