4 hours ago
52
Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton is making his case to California voters wherever he can ahead of the primary on June 2, and reminding everyone - especially those in the media - that the race is about the destruction Democrats have wrought upon the Golden State and not about Donald Trump.
RedState has written on the race extensively, including about its slew of unsavory, unappetizing Democrats running. It was just a few days ago when repellent now-former Rep. Eric Swalwell (D) was forced out of the race because of at least five allegations by women of sexual harassment or assault, spawning a serious investigation by the Justice Department (DOJ) on Apr. 16.
To be sure, there are many contrasts between Steve Hilton and the Dems. One of those contrasts is glaring: he happens to be leading the most recent polling by Emerson in the state's loopy jungle primary race, along with fellow GOP contender Chad Bianco (16 percent and 14 percent, respectively), as my colleague Ward Clark wrote three days ago. He also holds the distinction of having been endorsed by President Donald Trump earlier in April.
During an interview with The Hill's Chris Stirewalt which was broadcast on Sunday, Hilton was asked if he believes both he and Bianco can advance to the general election ballot.
His answer was unequivocal:
“I’ve never thought that’s a realistic possibility,” he told Stirewalt. “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.”
Hilton added that the worst outcome of the primary, the one Republicans "need to be worried about," would be if no Republican survives to be part of the midterms in November:
“That actually is the scenario I think we really need to be worried about and that we need to unite behind the leading Republican."
But at one point in the sit-down with Stirewalt, the host brought up a poll from June 2025 (by the Public Policy Institute of California) showing Pres. Trump "just 29 percent of California adults approve of Trump, including 82 percent of Republicans, 31 percent of independents and six percent of Democrats."
That's when Hilton was forced to remind Stirewalt of a few inconvenient facts—one fact is that while he and Bianco are on the California ballot, the name of another Republican politician isn't: Donald Trump.
“This election is going to be about the future of California and the fact that we’re desperate for change in California," Hilton said.
He continued with the receipts on why Trump and Republicans are not to blame for the state's woes, including high taxes and out-of-control homelessness, in what might be a preview of the gubernatorial debate this week.
“That’s entirely due to Democrat policies after 16 years of one-party rule. That’s the argument that I’ll be making in the debate on Wednesday and then into the general election.
“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 and that’s what I’m offering.”
Hilton said in another recent mainstream media interview (Newsweek) via Zoom, “California is desperate for change. Everything’s heading in the wrong direction. It’s really a disaster, and we’re desperate for a change.”
He added that, "[i]f the campaign for California governor is about California…then I will win. If the Democrats succeed…to make the California governor’s race about national politics, then the headwinds…will come into play.”
That's exactly right. Republicans need to keep the race focused on California and the destruction wrought by decades of one-party rule, and not allow themselves to be dragged into discussions about national politics. But for now, every California voter who's sick of the status quo needs to get out and vote for a Republican in the primary.
English (US) ·