Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton is attempting to decouple his campaign from the political fortunes of former President Donald Trump in deep-blue California, arguing the state's pressing domestic issues have "nothing to do" with the polarizing former president.
In a Sunday television interview, Hilton, who received Trump's endorsement earlier this month, contended that the former president's dismal approval rating among California voters—which a Public Policy Institute of California poll last May pegged at just 29%—would not be a decisive factor. "This election is going to be about the future of California and the fact that we're desperate for change," Hilton stated, shifting focus to what he described as 16 years of failed one-party Democratic rule.
A Campaign Framed Around State Failures
The conservative commentator and former adviser to British Prime Minister David Cameron pointed to California's poverty, unemployment, and high cost of living as central campaign issues. He attributed these challenges solely to state-level Democratic policies. "That's entirely due to Democrat policies after 16 years of one-party rule," Hilton asserted. "Why would you expect a different result if you keep voting the same way? The answer for California is not another Democrat. It's a completely new direction."
Hilton's strategy highlights the delicate balancing act for Republicans in California: leveraging the energy of the Trump-aligned base while appealing to a broader electorate that has overwhelmingly rejected Trump's brand of politics. His approach mirrors that of some other Republicans who maintain working relationships with Trump while distancing themselves from his most controversial rhetoric, a dynamic noted in other contexts, such as when a former official cited an 'honest, direct' working relationship with Trump despite public disagreements.
A Crowded and Unpredictable Primary
The race remains fluid ahead of a pivotal Wednesday debate in Los Angeles. Following the withdrawal of Democratic former Rep. Eric Swalwell, a recent Emerson College poll of 1,000 respondents showed Hilton leading with 17% support. He is closely trailed by Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco at 14%, businessman and former presidential candidate Tom Steyer at 14%, and former Rep. Katie Porter and former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra tied at 10% each.
California's unique "top-two" primary system, which advances the two highest vote-getters regardless of party to the general election, adds a layer of complexity. The state has not elected a Republican governor since Arnold Schwarzenegger left office in 2011. Hilton expressed skepticism about an all-Republican general election matchup, calling it unrealistic. "You've got the massive financial power of the government unions and their corrupt relationship with the Democrat politicians. You've got the billionaire Tom Steyer. They will spend whatever it takes to make sure that there's a Democrat in the top two," he argued.
The Strategic Imperative: Avoiding a Democrat-Only Runoff
Hilton identified his primary strategic goal as preventing two Democrats from securing the top two slots in June. "That actually is the scenario I think we really need to be worried about," he said, urging Republicans to "unite behind the leading Republican." He predicted that if he advances, his general election opponent would likely be Steyer or Porter.
This focus on internal party unity and state-specific issues represents a distinct political lane, separate from the national foreign policy debates that often dominate Trump-aligned discourse, such as the defense of Trump's aggressive war rhetoric or threats against adversarial nations. Hilton's campaign is instead a direct assault on the record of the state's Democratic establishment, betting that local discontent can overcome national partisan trends.
As the primary enters its final stretch, Hilton's attempt to navigate California's political landscape—embracing Trump's endorsement while sidelining his national baggage—will test whether a Republican message focused exclusively on state governance can gain traction where broader GOP themes have repeatedly failed.
