\n President Donald Trump has thrown his support behind Republican Steve Hilton in the California governor\u2019s race, potentially shaking up a crowded race to replace outgoing Gov. Gavin Newsom.\n <\/p>\n
\n \u201cWith Federal help, and a Great Governor, like Steve Hilton, California can be better than ever before!\u201d Trump wrote in a Truth Social post<\/a> early Monday morning. \u201cSteve Hilton has my COMPLETE & TOTAL ENDORSEMENT.\u201d\n <\/p>\n \n The president called Hilton, a British immigrant and former strategist in UK politics, a \u201cfine man,\u201d who Trump said he has known and respected for many years.\n <\/p>\n \n Hilton\u2019s campaign thanked Trump for the endorsement in a post on social media<\/a>, writing, \u201cWith President Trump\u2019s full backing and federal support, we are going to take California back and make it better than ever before!\u201d\n <\/p>\n \n Hilton, a former Fox News host, is vying with Chad Bianco, the Republican sheriff of Riverside County, and eight major Democratic candidates to emerge from California\u2019s June 2 primary, which puts the top two candidates, regardless of party, on the ballot in November.\n <\/p>\n \n Concern has been growing amongst Democrats that the scattered field of Democratic candidates could split the vote enough for Hilton and Bianco to be the top two vote-getters in the primary<\/a>, locking Democrats out of the general election in a state that hasn\u2019t elected a Republican governor in nearly two decades.\n <\/p>\n