The Republican Party of California voted on Sunday not to issue an endorsement in the governor's race. This decision means Steve Hilton and Sheriff Chad Bianco failed to win the California Republican Party's endorsement, leaving both candidates without the party's official backing as they compete in the primary. On Monday, Donald Trump endorsed Republican former Fox News host Steve Hilton in the California governor's race. Trump announced his backing on Truth Social, pledging federal support for his candidacy. The exact amount of federal support Trump has pledged to Hilton if he wins remains unclear, and it is unknown whether this endorsement will significantly boost Hilton's chances in the primary or general election. According to The Guardian - World, Steve Hilton described being honored to have the president's endorsement but noted that the California governor's race is close to the last thing on his mind right now.
Steve Hilton is a dual British-American citizen who served as director of strategy to former prime minister David Cameron before leaving Downing Street in 2012 and moving to California. Hilton later became a Fox News host before launching his campaign for governor. In the race, Hilton and his main Republican rival, Riverside county sheriff Chad Bianco, are running neck and neck with three leading Democrats – congressman Eric Swalwell, former congresswoman Katie Porter and billionaire activist Tom Steyer. A March poll by the state's Democratic party showed Hilton held the lead with likely voters at 16%, followed by Republican Bianco at 14%. Swalwell, Porter and Steyer were in a dead heat at 10% each, according to the poll. How the Republican Party's lack of endorsement will impact the dynamics between Hilton and Bianco is uncertain, but political analysts are weighing in on the implications.
Steve can turn it around, before it is too late, and, as President, I will help him to do so.
Rob Pyers, a political data analyst at California Target Book, said the endorsement would probably free up tens of millions of dollars for Democratic groups that had been preparing to spend heavily to boost one Republican candidate. Hilton's platform, which he calls 'Califordable', focuses on lowering the cost of living. In a weekend interview with California Politics 360, he promised to bring gas prices down to $3 a gallon, halve energy costs through deregulation and scrap state income tax for Californians earning $100,000 or less. He has also proposed restricting Medi-Cal coverage for undocumented immigrants and launched a volunteer anti-fraud initiative he calls 'Cal Doge', claiming waste and fraud in state programs has cost taxpayers more than $430bn over five years. Hilton, who is skeptical of regulating AI and tech, also doesn't believe children under 16 years old should own a smartphone.
On the Democratic side, Rep. Katie Porter was widely viewed as having torpedoed her campaign after getting angry and lashing out at a reporter over questions about her campaign strategy, an incident that occurred amid other reports of her allegedly abusive behavior towards staff. The specific details or timeline of the alleged incidents involving Katie Porter are not fully confirmed. Rep. Eric Swalwell is facing calls to drop out from former Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other Democrats who withdrew their endorsements this weekend after a former staffer came forward and alleged to CNN that she was raped by the congressman. Swalwell firmly denied the accusation in a statement put out on X. The House is likely to debate his expulsion this coming week, but whether the House will actually vote to expel Eric Swalwell and the outcome of such a vote remains to be seen.
I'd be honored to have the president's endorsement, but I think the California governor's race is close to the last thing on his mind right now.
He promised to bring gas prices down to $3 a gallon, halve energy costs through deregulation and scrap state income tax for Californians earning $100,000 or less.