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Republican Steve Hilton Leads in California Governor Race, Signaling Potential GOP Upset
Steve Hilton, a legal immigrant and political newcomer running as a Republican for California’s governorship, has emerged as the frontrunner in the race to replace Gavin Newsom, according to a new Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies poll. The survey shows Hilton leading with 17 percent of voter preferences, followed by fellow Republican Riverside Sheriff Chad Bianco at 16 percent.
Both Republicans currently outpace the top Democratic contenders, Rep. Eric Swalwell and former Rep. Katie Porter, who each received 13 percent support in the poll. The unexpected Republican surge in a state long considered a Democratic stronghold suggests growing voter dissatisfaction with the current administration.
“I know people look at California and assume that it’s going to be Democrat forever. It’s a deep blue state, but people here are sick of it. There’s a revolution brewing in California,” Hilton told Fox News Digital. “This is our year.”
Hilton, who immigrated to California from the United Kingdom in 2014, attributes the shifting political winds to widespread frustration with Newsom’s leadership and the consequences of single-party Democratic rule. He points to visible evidence of policy failures, particularly the state’s homelessness crisis and rising crime rates.
“It’s not just the visible signs of failure that you see when you look at California. You know the homelessness crisis, by far the worst in the country. The crime that’s out of control, the smash-and-grab rates, the videos of that — those things are visible,” Hilton explained. “But if you actually look under the hood, as it were, of daily life in California, it is an absolute failure on every front.”
California’s unique top-two primary system could create an unusual scenario in November. Democratic strategists worry that their party’s large candidate field might split the progressive vote, potentially allowing Hilton and Bianco to be the only candidates to advance to the general election.
Immigration policy has emerged as a central issue in the campaign. Hilton has criticized California’s sanctuary policies, saying they reward illegal immigrants at the expense of law-abiding taxpayers. “People are infuriated when they see illegal immigrants in our state getting rewarded and getting away with crime and getting away with things that just regular Californians wouldn’t be able to get away with,” he said.
Despite his firm stance on illegal immigration, Hilton emphasizes that he is “pro-immigration” while insisting on controlled borders. Coming from a family of immigrants who fled communist Hungary for the United Kingdom, Hilton draws on personal experience when discussing the topic.
“I hear all the time that we should be offering a pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants. There is a pathway of citizenship. It’s called legal immigration. I just took it. It is available,” he stated.
The Berkeley poll did reveal continuing strong anti-Trump sentiment in California, with 42 percent of voters considering a candidate’s willingness to “aggressively fight Trump administration policies” important in their selection process. Additionally, 28 percent value candidates with progressive views.
However, Hilton dismisses anti-immigration activism as representing only “a very loud, well-organized, often well-funded minority of activists,” rather than mainstream California opinion. “Most regular people believe that our laws should be properly enforced. That’s the majority position, I would say even in California,” he argued.
Looking beyond California’s borders, Hilton believes the race has national implications. “So many of the terrible policies that are infecting the rest of the country, they all started here. The gender extremism, the climate extremism. All this nonsense, it started here in California,” he said. “So, if we beat them here, then we are doing something very important for the whole country.”
Fox News Digital reached out to Governor Newsom’s office and the Swalwell and Porter campaigns for comment, but had not received responses at the time of publication.
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8 Comments
The potential upset in California is a reminder that political winds can shift quickly, even in seemingly entrenched party strongholds. Voters are clearly hungry for a change in direction.
As a political newcomer, Steve Hilton’s rise in the polls is noteworthy. His immigrant background and outsider status may be resonating with Californians who want a fresh perspective in the governor’s office.
While it’s still early, the Republican surge in California is an intriguing development. It will be important to watch how the race unfolds and whether Hilton can maintain his momentum.
Agreed. The race will likely be closely watched nationwide as an indicator of broader political trends.
I’m curious to see how Hilton’s policies and platform compare to the current administration. A Republican victory in California could have significant implications for the national political landscape.
Good point. Hilton’s policy proposals will be key to understanding what voters are looking for in a change of leadership.
Interesting to see a Republican candidate gaining momentum in traditionally blue California. Voters seem ready for a change from the Newsom administration’s policies. This could be an important bellwether for the national political landscape.
The surge in Republican support suggests dissatisfaction with the current state leadership, even in a Democratic stronghold like California. Voters are clearly looking for a new approach to address their concerns.