Trump endorsement shakes up california governor race
California's already bizarre gubernatorial primary just got a jolt of Washington D.C. chaos. Late Sunday, former President Donald Trump threw his weight behind Republican Steve Hilton, a vocal conservative and former Fox News contributor, less than two months before voters head to the polls.
A surprise boost for hilton
The endorsement, delivered via Trump's Truth Social platform, was effusive, to say the least: “I have known and respected Steve Hilton…for many years. He is a truly fine man, one who has watched as this once great State has gone to Hell.” Hilton's campaign, predictably, responded with enthusiasm, declaring they would “take California back and make it better than ever before,” fueled by what they termed “full backing and federal support.” This is a significant move, injecting a national narrative into a race that, while fascinating, has largely been defined by California-specific dynamics.
Hilton, a British-born transplant who became a U.S. citizen in 2021—and once served as strategy director for former UK Prime Minister David Cameron—has been gaining traction in recent polls, positioning himself as a leading contender. The top two vote-getters, regardless of party, advance to November’s general election, a quirk of California’s primary system that dramatically complicates matters. With Democrats struggling to coalesce behind a single frontrunner, the possibility of two Republicans advancing is increasingly real, a scenario few anticipated just weeks ago.
But the landscape isn't static. Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, another Republican vying for a spot in the general election, enjoys a long-standing loyalty to Trump, regularly praising him on social media. He's now facing a steeper climb, needing to overcome both Democrats like Representative Eric Swalwell and billionaire Tom Steyer, and the newfound Trump spotlight on Hilton.
The kicker? Bianco recently initiated an investigation into alleged election fraud in a recent California special election, citing a discrepancy of 45,000 ballots. The probe, quickly challenged and put on hold by the state’s attorney general, has already been branded “politically motivated” by Bianco himself. This adds another layer of intrigue to an already convoluted political drama.
CBS California and the Asian Pacific American Public Affairs Association will host a gubernatorial debate at Pomona College on April 28, though the candidate lineup remains unconfirmed. Whether Trump's endorsement will fundamentally alter the trajectory of this primary remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: California Politics just got a whole lot more interesting. The state's June 2 primary promises to be anything but predictable, offering a potential glimpse into a shifting Republican strategy—and a decidedly unconventional path to Sacramento.