Donald Trump has endorsed Republican and former Fox News host Steve Hilton in California’s gubernatorial race—a move that could derail the party’s strategy of sending two candidates into the runoff and, in turn, complicate efforts to keep Democrats out of the November vote.
Trump announced his backing on Monday on Truth Social, saying Hilton “has my COMPLETE AND TOTAL ENDORSEMENT” and promising federal support for his campaign. “Steve can turn it around before it is too late, and, as President, I will help him do it,” he wrote.
Hilton, 50, who holds dual British-American citizenship, previously served as director of strategy to former British prime minister David Cameron. He left Downing Street in 2012 and moved to California, where he later became a Fox News host before launching his campaign for governor.
Trump’s endorsement complicates Republican calculations built around the state’s so-called jungle primary, under which the two candidates with the highest vote totals on June 3 advance to the runoff regardless of party. Hilton and his main intraparty rival—Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco—are running almost neck and neck with three leading Democrats: Congressman Eric Swalwell, former Congresswoman Katie Porter, and billionaire activist Tom Steyer. Under those conditions, Republicans had hoped that splitting the conservative vote between two candidates would still allow both to reach the final stage.
According to a March poll conducted by the state Democratic Party, Hilton led likely voters with 16%, followed by Bianco with 14%. Swalwell, Porter, and Steyer were tied for third place at 10% each.
Rob Pyers, a political analyst at California Target Book, says Trump’s intervention will likely free up tens of millions of dollars for Democratic organizations.
They had previously been preparing to direct substantial sums toward boosting one of the Republicans—a tactic Democrats have used in previous election cycles to avoid a scenario in which none of their candidates makes it into the final round.
Although Hilton had previously said he would welcome Trump’s support, he told Politico that he had not discussed the campaign with him. “It would be an honor to receive the president’s endorsement, but I think the California governor’s race is far from the top of his priority list right now,” he said.
His platform, branded “Califordable,” is centered on lowering the cost of living. In an interview with California Politics 360 over the weekend, he pledged to cut gasoline prices to $3 a gallon, halve energy costs through deregulation, and eliminate the state income tax for residents earning up to $100,000. He also proposed limiting access to Medi-Cal for undocumented migrants and launched an anti-fraud volunteer initiative called “Cal Doge,” arguing that inefficiency and abuse in government programs have cost taxpayers more than $430 billion over the past five years.
Hilton is skeptical of regulating artificial intelligence and the technology sector, and also believes children under 16 should not own smartphones.
Despite Democrats’ durable strength, California is not entirely closed territory for Republicans at the statewide level. The last Republican governor was Arnold Schwarzenegger, who held the office from 2003 to 2011.
Trump’s statement came just days before the California Republican Party’s convention in San Diego, where delegates were due to decide whether to issue their own official endorsement in the race—but the former president’s intervention may now alter that balance.
Early voting in the primary will begin on May 23 and end on June 2.