NBC NEWS WILL PROVIDE A SPECIAL REPORT WHEN THAT HAPPENS. TURNING NOW TO OUR COVERAGE. PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP HAS ENDORSED REPUBLICAN STEVE HILTON FOR GOVERNOR OF CALIFORNIA, POSTING IN PART TO TRUTH SOCIAL, QUOTE, STEVE CAN TURN IT AROUND BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE. AND AS PRESIDENT, I WILL HELP HIM TO DO SO WITH FEDERAL HELP AND A GREAT GOVERNOR LIKE STEVE HILTON. CALIFORNIA CAN BE BETTER THAN EVER BEFORE. END QUOTE. KCRA 3 POLITICAL DIRECTOR ASHLEY ZAVALA SAT DOWN WITH HILTON TO HEAR HIS IDEAS. WHEN IT COMES TO MAJOR ISSUES IMPACTING CALIFORNIANS. SWITCHING GEARS, I THINK WHAT EVERYONE WANTS TO KNOW IS HOW WOULD A GOVERNOR. STEVE HILTON, LOWER COSTS FOR CALIFORNIANS? WELL, THAT IS THE FOCUS OF MY ENTIRE CAMPAIGN. SO WE’RE DOING THESE TOWN HALLS UP AND DOWN THE STATE. YOU’VE GOT HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE COMING EACH TIME. WE’VE GOT A REALLY GREAT ENERGY THERE. AND THE THEME OF IT IS ONE WORD ACTUALLY AFFORDABLE. MY PLAN TO MAKE IT AFFORDABLE AND THE HEADLINES ARE VERY SIMPLE. YOU CAN DIVE INTO THE DETAILS IF YOU LIKE, BUT NUMBER ONE, WE HAVE TO END THE CLIMATE EXTREMISM ON FOSSIL FUELS THAT HAVE GIVEN US THE GAS PRICES THAT ARE HIGHEST IN THE COUNTRY. SO STOP THE CLIMATE GOALS. YEAH. LIKE COMPLETELY GET RID OF THEM. NO, YOU NEED COMMON SENSE CLIMATE GOALS, NOT THE EXTREME AND TOTALLY INSANE CLIMATE GOALS. NOW YOU C
President Trump endorses Republican Steve Hilton in California governor race
Updated: 10:20 AM PDT Apr 6, 2026
As California voters are set to vote for a new governor this year, President Donald Trump has officially endorsed one of the leading Republican candidates.”I have known and respected Steve Hilton, who is running for Governor of California, for many years,” a statement from Trump on his Truth Social platform reads. “Steve can turn it around, before it is too late, and, as President, I will help him to do so! With Federal help, and a Great Governor, like Steve Hilton, California can be better than ever before!”Gov. Gavin Newsom will no longer be able to hold the office of governor because of California’s two-term limit. That means, regardless of how the midterm elections go this year, the state will have a new leader.Hilton, a former Fox News commentator, is one of two prominent Republican candidates, the other being Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco. In a recent interview with Political Director Ashley Zavala, Hilton has stated that he would be honored to have Trump’s endorsement.The race to become California governor remains competitive, with Democrats concerned that Hilton and Bianco could defeat them in the June primaries. Because of California’s top-two system, the top two vote-getters in the primary election advance to the November election regardless of political affiliation.Democratic Party Chair Rusty Hicks has called on Democrats to consider dropping out of the race if their campaign isn’t strong enough. His open letter cited concerns that too many Democratic candidates might backfire and result in all of them losing.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
SACRAMENTO, Calif. —
As California voters are set to vote for a new governor this year, President Donald Trump has officially endorsed one of the leading Republican candidates.
“I have known and respected Steve Hilton, who is running for Governor of California, for many years,” a statement from Trump on his Truth Social platform reads. “Steve can turn it around, before it is too late, and, as President, I will help him to do so! With Federal help, and a Great Governor, like Steve Hilton, California can be better than ever before!”
Gov. Gavin Newsom will no longer be able to hold the office of governor because of California’s two-term limit. That means, regardless of how the midterm elections go this year, the state will have a new leader.
Hilton, a former Fox News commentator, is one of two prominent Republican candidates, the other being Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco. In a recent interview with Political Director Ashley Zavala, Hilton has stated that he would be honored to have Trump’s endorsement.
The race to become California governor remains competitive, with Democrats concerned that Hilton and Bianco could defeat them in the June primaries. Because of California’s top-two system, the top two vote-getters in the primary election advance to the November election regardless of political affiliation.
Democratic Party Chair Rusty Hicks has called on Democrats to consider dropping out of the race if their campaign isn’t strong enough. His open letter cited concerns that too many Democratic candidates might backfire and result in all of them losing.
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel