A high-profile presidential endorsement has jolted California’s crowded primary, forcing campaigns to rethink strategy and donor outreach.
President Donald Trump voiced his support for Republican Steve Hilton in the California gubernatorial race, a move that could shake up the tight contest to replace incumbent Governor Gavin Newsom.
“With federal support and an outstanding governor like Steve Hilton, California can be better than ever before.”
– President Donald Trump
Hilton is a British immigrant and a former political strategist in the United Kingdom, named by Trump as “a wonderful person,” whom the president has known and respected for many years.
“With the full backing of President Trump and federal support, we will take California back and make it better than ever before!”
– Steve Hilton’s Campaign
Hilton, a former Fox News host, is running against Chad Bianco, the Republican sheriff of Riverside County, and eight Democratic candidates in California’s June primaries, which will put two candidates on the November ballot regardless of party affiliation.
Democrats have expressed concerns that a crowded field could lead to Hilton and Bianco to finish first in the primaries and pull voters away from Democrats in the state’s most populous state, where Republicans have not won a gubernatorial election in years.
Hilton studied at the University of Oxford and began his political career working for the Conservative Party of the United Kingdom during the Margaret Thatcher era, according to his campaign.
After a career in business, he returned to politics, becoming a senior adviser to former British Prime Minister David Cameron before moving to California in 2012.
The campaign will continue to build momentum and shape its position on California’s future governorship.