DENVER, CO - AUGUST 26: San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom and Kamala Harris laugh at a Time magazine breakfast for up and coming politicians as part of the Democratic National Convention, Tuesday Aug. 26, 2008, in Denver, Colorado. On Tuesday, August 11, 2020, Joe Biden announced he had selected Harris as his Vice-presidential running mate. (Lacy Atkins/The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)
Sacramento, California – Conservative commentator and Silicon Valley entrepreneur Steve Hilton announced Monday that he is running for California governor. Hilton will join the 2026 race to succeed term-limited Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom. Hilton becomes the second high-profile Republican to launch a bid, following Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco.
In a nearly three-minute video posted online, Hilton declared, “Let’s make California the land of opportunity again… Let’s make California an inspiration again, the very best of America.” He criticized “years of Democrat failure” and called for an end to the state’s one-party rule.
Hilton, 55, a British-born former adviser to U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron, immigrated to California in 2012 and became a U.S. citizen in 2021. His eclectic resume spans political consulting, business ethics, television hosting, and tech entrepreneurship. He is known for his time as host of Fox News’ The Next Revolution and as co-founder of the political crowdfunding platform Crowdpac.
Though Republicans haven’t won a statewide office in California since 2006, the state’s nonpartisan “jungle primary” system—where the top two vote-getters advance to the general election regardless of party—offers a possible path for a Republican to reach the November ballot, particularly as Democrats field a crowded roster of candidates.
The Democratic field includes Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis, former U.S. Health Secretary Xavier Becerra, state schools chief Tony Thurmond, and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, among others. Even former Vice President Kamala Harris is reportedly considering a run.
Hilton’s candidacy will likely face scrutiny over his strong support for Donald Trump and past calls for investigations into the 2020 election. Yet, his connections in Silicon Valley, including relationships with billionaire venture capitalist Chamath Palihapitiya and ex-Google CEO Eric Schmidt, could bolster his campaign.
In 2023, Hilton founded Golden Together, a policy group focused on issues like homelessness, wildfire prevention, and economic reform. The group’s advisory board includes bipartisan figures such as former Democratic Senate leader Gloria Romero and Republican strategist Lanhee Chen.
“Fortune favors the bold,” said Conyers Davis, a former adviser to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. “It’s an uphill battle, but if bold people like Steve don’t emerge, Republicans aren’t going to win.”
Hilton will officially launch his campaign on Tuesday in Huntington Beach.
