Former Fox News host Steve Hilton announced on Monday that he is entering the California gubernatorial race, aiming to challenge Gov. Gavin Newsom’s (D) hold on the state as he seeks to become Newsom’s successor.
In a video shared on the social platform X, Hilton, who has lived in California for over a decade, emphasized his personal journey from London to U.S. citizenship and framed his decision to run as part of a broader effort to revitalize the state.
Hilton’s candidacy positions him as a key figure in the growing Republican effort to break California’s longstanding Democratic dominance. He criticized what he described as the failed policies of Democratic leaders who have controlled the state for decades and argued that it’s time for a change.
“This is not just any other state. California means to America what America means to the world,” Hilton said in his video announcement, calling for a return to what he views as the golden age of opportunity in California.
“It’s time to end the years of Democrat failure,” Hilton declared, signaling his goal of dismantling what he sees as a system that has left the state grappling with high living costs, homelessness, and a host of other issues. His remarks in the video highlighted images of prominent Democratic figures, including Gov. Newsom, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, and former Vice President Kamala Harris, all of whom have played central roles in California’s political landscape in recent years.
Hilton’s campaign is expected to tap into widespread dissatisfaction with the current state of California politics, although it faces significant hurdles. In an interview with Fox News Digital, Hilton referred to the upcoming election as a “life-or-death moment” for the state, underscoring the importance of shifting power away from the Democrats.
His message appears to resonate with a growing number of Californians who feel disillusioned by the Democratic leadership in the state, though he must contend with the deep blue political landscape that has dominated California since the early 1990s.
With Newsom barred by term limits from running again in 2026, the race for governor is wide open, setting the stage for a crowded primary field. Hilton is the second major Republican to enter the race, following Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, who also announced his candidacy.
Both Bianco and Hilton face a challenging path, as California has not elected a Republican governor since Arnold Schwarzenegger’s successful reelection bid in 2006. The state’s rapidly changing demographics, along with its overwhelming Democratic tilt, make it a tough battleground for conservative candidates.
However, Hilton is betting that his outsider status and business background will help distinguish him in a crowded field. He has been involved in several high-profile projects, including Crowdpac, a tech startup focused on politics, and has close ties to Silicon Valley.
Hilton’s business background and connections in the tech world could be a significant advantage if he can mobilize donors to back his campaign.
As the campaign heats up, Hilton’s ties to former President Donald Trump could play a role in his candidacy. He has long been a vocal supporter of Trump and has even called for investigations into the 2020 election results, echoing many of Trump’s baseless claims of election fraud.
Hilton’s alignment with Trump could help him connect with the more conservative segments of California’s electorate, but it could also alienate more moderate voters in a state that has increasingly leaned left in recent years.
Hilton’s campaign will likely face competition from within the Democratic Party as well. Many California Democrats are speculating that former Vice President Kamala Harris could be a contender for the governor’s seat, particularly after her bruising loss in the 2024 presidential race.
While Harris has not yet indicated whether she will run, her name continues to be floated as a potential candidate who could unite the party and energize voters. In addition to Harris, several other Democrats have already thrown their hats in the ring, including former U.S. Rep. Katie Porter (D-Calif.) and former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, both of whom launched their campaigns earlier this year.
Hilton, 55, has spent much of his career in media, first as a political strategist in the United Kingdom and later as a Fox News host. His show, The Next Revolution, ran from 2017 to 2023, offering conservative commentary and analysis on national and global affairs.
Hilton moved to California in 2012 with his wife, who worked at Google, while he taught at Stanford University. He has been vocal about his desire to see California return to its roots as the “land of opportunity,” a theme that resonates strongly in his video announcement.
“We’ve got to end the one-party rule that got us into this mess. It’s time for a new future,” Hilton said, framing his candidacy as a necessary step toward turning the state around. “Let’s make California the land of opportunity again. Great jobs, great homes, great kids,” Hilton declared, invoking the ideal of a golden California where prosperity and success are accessible to all.
He is positioning himself as the candidate who can restore the state to its former glory, suggesting that under Democratic leadership, California has strayed too far from these ideals.
Despite the uphill battle ahead, Hilton’s entry into the race adds a new layer of complexity to the already crowded and competitive field. While the Republican Party remains a minority in California’s political landscape, Hilton’s candidacy could potentially energize voters who feel disillusioned with the current direction of the state.
His business experience, media presence, and clear stance against the state’s Democratic establishment might give him the momentum he needs to stand out in what is sure to be a highly contentious race.
For now, Hilton’s campaign is gaining traction, but the coming months will reveal whether his outsider status and focus on restoring California to its “golden” roots can resonate with voters in a state that has become increasingly diverse and progressive.
With his emphasis on economic opportunity and criticism of the one-party rule in California, Hilton is hoping to tap into a larger movement of change, appealing to voters who feel that the state’s current political leadership has failed them.
In the end, Hilton’s ability to succeed in the 2026 race will depend on his ability to unite a fractured Republican Party, secure enough funding to compete with the well-funded Democratic candidates, and convince Californians that his vision for the state represents the future they want to see.
Whether or not he can overcome the state’s deep-blue political landscape remains to be seen, but with his strong political messaging and business background, Hilton is positioning himself as a force to be reckoned with in the race for California’s governorship.
