Trump endorses Steve Hilton for California governor

by · UPI

April 6 (UPI) -- President Donald Trump endorsed Republican Steve Hilton for California governor early Monday morning on Truth Social.

"I have known and respected Steve Hilton, who is running for Governor of California, for many years," Trump said on Truth Social. "He is a truly fine man, one who has watched as this once great State has gone to Hell. Gavin Newscum and the Democrats have done an absolutely horrendous job. People are fleeing, crime is increasing, and Taxes are the highest of any State in the Country, maybe the World. Steve can turn it around, before it is too late, and, as President, I will help him to do so! With Federal help, and a Great Governor, like Steve Hilton, California can be better than ever before! Steve Hilton has my COMPLETE & TOTAL ENDORSEMENT. He will be a GREAT Governor and, importantly, WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!!! President DONALD J. TRUMP."

Hilton posted on X, "With President Trump's full backing and federal support, we are going to take California back and make it better than ever before! Thank you, Mr. President! This is the moment California has been waiting for!"

Hilton is a British immigrant and former Fox News host. He and Chad Bianco, sheriff of Riverside County, are the two most likely Republican candidates to lead in the California primary. There are eight Democratic candidates in the primary set for June 2. The two highest vote-getters, regardless of party, get on the November election ballot.

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Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., is running, along with former Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra, former Rep. Katie Porter, D-Calif., former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and entrepreneur Tom Steyer. A total of 10 candidates are officially running to lead the state, which is the fourth-largest economy in the world.

Hilton said in an interview with CNN that Democrats are responsible for high housing and gas prices.

"On and on through every issue I'll be making the case that it's 15 years of one-party rule that have brought us to this point, where working families can barely afford to pay the bills, where we have the highest unemployment. That's all the result of Democrat policies, not Donald Trump," Hilton said.

Hilton, 56, studied at Oxford University and became a U.S. citizen in 2021. He worked for the Conservative Party in Britain and was a senior strategist for Prime Minister David Cameron before moving to California in 2012.

Bianco has been making headlines over his seizure of ballots from the 2025 referendum, allowing the state to redistrict its House of Representatives seats. He announced he would put his investigation of that election on hold due to challenges from Secretary of State Rob Bonta.

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