Newport, CA – Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton is intensifying his campaign efforts across California, rallying supporters against what he terms the “Sacramento bureaucracy” and its impact on the state’s affordability. Hilton, who officially launched his bid for governor on April 21, 2025, is positioning himself as a champion for Californians struggling with high costs, particularly in housing and taxation.
"Ran into my new friends, Phil and Dante, out in Newport! They’re fighting alongside me and so many Californians against the Sacramento bureaucracy that has made our state unaffordable! We’re working together, and when I’m elected in November, we’re going to make California affordable again!" Hilton stated in a recent tweet. The former Fox News host and ex-strategist for British Prime Minister David Cameron has made California’s cost of living the central pillar of his campaign.
Hilton’s platform focuses on reducing taxes, capping hidden housing fees, and dismantling what he describes as anti-housing regulations, including reforms to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). He argues that these measures are essential to restoring the “California Dream” of homeownership. His campaign has already seen significant financial backing, raising over $6.6 million as of April 2026.
The candidate recently received a high-profile endorsement from former President Donald Trump on April 6, 2026, a move that has significantly shaped the Republican primary field. Despite this, Hilton secured 44% of delegate votes at the California Republican Party’s spring convention, falling short of the 60% needed for a formal party endorsement. Recent polling indicates Hilton is a strong contender in the top-two primary system, with a SurveyUSA poll showing him trailing only Democrat Tom Steyer.
Hilton’s campaign, with Gloria Romero as his running mate for Lieutenant Governor, aims to challenge the long-standing Democratic dominance in California by directly addressing voter concerns about economic hardship. The November 2026 election will test whether his message of affordability and bureaucratic reform resonates widely enough to overcome the state’s liberal political landscape.
