Fox News Ally Steve Hilton Advances to California Governor's Race, Backed by Trump
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Steve Hilton, a former UK political adviser turned Fox News commentator and Trump loyalist, has advanced to California's gubernatorial election, setting up a showdown with progressive Democrat Xavier Becerra after finishing second in the June primary.
Steve Hilton, once a British political operative and now a U.S. citizen since 2021, finished second in California’s nonpartisan primary on June 2, securing a place on the November ballot for governor against Democrat Xavier Becerra. The Associated Press projected Hilton as one of the top two, with final counts confirming his position behind Becerra, who united Democratic voters in a state known for its progressive values.
Hilton’s campaign received a significant boost from an endorsement by former President Donald Trump, whose baseless claims of election-rigging resurfaced as mail ballots were counted. Trump initially declared Hilton the winner, only to later allege, without any evidence, that the state manipulated the results. Hilton, echoing right-wing rhetoric, declared, "Change is coming, and the campaign for change starts today."
Becerra, a champion of progressive causes and former congressman, state attorney general, and U.S. health secretary, led the field decisively after late-counted votes shifted the balance on June 5. Billionaire investor Tom Steyer, running on a progressive platform, placed third and graciously conceded, thanking his supporters for their commitment to real change.
Hilton, who moved to the tech-rich San Francisco Bay Area in 2012, has attempted to frame his candidacy as an outsider’s perspective, emphasizing his immigrant background while glossing over his deep ties to conservative media and the Trump administration. He has pledged to "save California," positioning himself as a so-called pragmatist, despite his record in coalition government under UK Prime Minister David Cameron, whose austerity policies harmed working people.
Political analysts note Hilton faces an uphill battle in a state where Democrats outnumber Republicans two-to-one and have won the last three gubernatorial elections with about 60% of the vote. His campaign’s messaging, including the tone-deaf slogan "Califordable," has attracted criticism, especially after a social-media blunder in which Hilton misidentified a hard-shell tortilla dish as a "street taco," revealing his disconnect from California’s diverse communities.