Steve Hilton confident he’ll advance in California governor race

While votes are still being tallied in the race to become California’s next governor, Republican candidate and former Fox News commentator Steve Hilton is confident he gathered enough votes to make it to November.Track full election results hereCalifornia’s top-two system allows for the two candidates with the most votes to advance to the November General Election regardless of party preference.As of Wednesday morning, Steve Hilton leads the pack, with Democrat Xavier Becerra slightly behind. Both have a notable lead against Tom Steyer, who is third in most votes.At a news conference at the state Capitol, Hilton touted that his lead comes from people wanting change in the state of California, critiquing Becerra for offering more of the same.”We’re very confident that Californians will have the chance to vote for change in November, and there’ll be a choice between four more years of the same or a new direction,” Hilton said.When asked if he’s concerned that two Democrats may yet be the ones to advance, Hilton dismissed the likelihood that a second Democrat could lock him out of the runoff election. See California governor primary election results belowHe was also asked which Democrat he would rather have as an opponent for November. Hilton responded by saying that it is up to the voter.”The main point is this: A Democrat cannot win in November, because California desperately needs change,” Hilton said, again stating that a Democrat in power would just mean more of the same for the state.Maintaining the status quo is a point Hilton has repeatedly criticized Becerra for allegedly promising to voters on the campaign trail. When it comes to his take on Steyer, Hilton said he believes Steyer wants to “accelerate, go even further and faster down a road that the majority of Californians said they don’t like.”At the start of his rally, Hilton accused the current administration of “profligacy” and promised that he would be more frugal with the state’s budget if elected.Hilton also promised two campaign announcements. The first one is that he said he plans to meet with Republican leaders and other candidates to “lead a united team to bring change to California.”His other announcement is a plan to enhance a policy that would make residents’ first $100,000 tax-free. He said he is working to raise that figure in an effort to address affordability.”Our goal is to act quickly and immediately to take less money out of people’s pockets so they can afford to live in California,” Hilton said.Hilton has received the endorsement of President Donald Trump in this election.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 | Make KCRA a preferred news source in Google

SACRAMENTO, Calif. —

While votes are still being tallied in the race to become California’s next governor, Republican candidate and former Fox News commentator Steve Hilton is confident he gathered enough votes to make it to November.

Track full election results here

California’s top-two system allows for the two candidates with the most votes to advance to the November General Election regardless of party preference.

As of Wednesday morning, Steve Hilton leads the pack, with Democrat Xavier Becerra slightly behind. Both have a notable lead against Tom Steyer, who is third in most votes.

At a news conference at the state Capitol, Hilton touted that his lead comes from people wanting change in the state of California, critiquing Becerra for offering more of the same.

“We’re very confident that Californians will have the chance to vote for change in November, and there’ll be a choice between four more years of the same or a new direction,” Hilton said.

When asked if he’s concerned that two Democrats may yet be the ones to advance, Hilton dismissed the likelihood that a second Democrat could lock him out of the runoff election.

See California governor primary election results below

He was also asked which Democrat he would rather have as an opponent for November. Hilton responded by saying that it is up to the voter.

“The main point is this: A Democrat cannot win in November, because California desperately needs change,” Hilton said, again stating that a Democrat in power would just mean more of the same for the state.

Maintaining the status quo is a point Hilton has repeatedly criticized Becerra for allegedly promising to voters on the campaign trail.

When it comes to his take on Steyer, Hilton said he believes Steyer wants to “accelerate, go even further and faster down a road that the majority of Californians said they don’t like.”

At the start of his rally, Hilton accused the current administration of “profligacy” and promised that he would be more frugal with the state’s budget if elected.

Hilton also promised two campaign announcements. The first one is that he said he plans to meet with Republican leaders and other candidates to “lead a united team to bring change to California.”

His other announcement is a plan to enhance a policy that would make residents’ first $100,000 tax-free. He said he is working to raise that figure in an effort to address affordability.

“Our goal is to act quickly and immediately to take less money out of people’s pockets so they can afford to live in California,” Hilton said.

Hilton has received the endorsement of President Donald Trump in this election.

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 | Make KCRA a preferred news source in Google