Steve Hilton is leading the Republican field in the race for governor, which has tightened in recent weeks, with Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco emerging as his closest rival within the party.
Recent polls show Hilton holding an edge among Republican voters, boosted by his media presence and the endorsement of President Donald Trump.
Campaign background and trajectory
Steve Hilton, a conservative entrepreneur, political commentator and newly naturalized U.S. citizen, said his run for governor represents “a real opportunity for change” in a state he argues is grappling with high living costs, a housing crisis, public safety concerns and a “broken” immigration system.
In an interview, Hilton said he is encouraged by his standing in the polls, while stressing that nothing can be taken for granted.
“I’m very happy to see that I’m leading in the polls … but I want to make sure people actually turn out and vote,” he said.
Hilton, who has never held elected office, was born in the United Kingdom and moved to the United States in 2012 after stepping down as director of strategy to then–Prime Minister David Cameron. After becoming a U.S. citizen in 2021, he emerged as a prominent conservative media figure and frequent critic of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s policies.
His campaign has gained traction within the state’s Republican Party, particularly after securing Trump’s endorsement earlier in 2026.
“I’m a new citizen… and being endorsed by the president of the United States is a real honor,” he said.
Hilton added that a cooperative relationship with the White House would be key to delivering results for California.
“It’s good for Californians to have a candidate who has a strong relationship with the president.”
Criticism of Newsom and Bonta
Hilton devoted much of the interview to criticizing California’s confrontational approach to the federal government.
He argued that lawsuits filed by Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta have harmed residents.
“Their lawsuits are helping keep gas prices high. It’s crazy,” he said, referring to litigation tied to energy production.
He also accused the state of blocking federal audits of public spending.
“The federal government is trying to find out where money is being wasted, and Gavin Newsom has consistently blocked those efforts.”
Economic proposals
Hilton outlined a series of economic proposals he says would ease financial pressure on households.
His central plan would eliminate the state income tax on the first $100,000 earned.
“Your first $100,000 would be tax-free,” he said, arguing the policy would benefit millions of workers who currently pay higher rates than residents in other states.
He also pledged to eliminate the state tax on tips, reduce fees for small businesses and cap vehicle registration at a flat $71.
“In other states, people pay less than $100… in California it can be over $1,000,” Hilton said.
He rejected the idea of a new “wealth tax,” warning that it has already driven high-income residents out of the state.
“It’s completely insane for our economy; we’re already losing revenue because so many millionaires have left for other states.”
Housing policy
On housing, Hilton criticized restrictions on building outside existing urban areas, which he attributes to Democratic environmental policies.
“They tell you that you can only build where there are already buildings — that just leads to luxury apartments,” he said.
He proposed allowing new developments of smaller, more affordable homes on the outskirts of cities.
“They call it urban sprawl; I call it the California dream.”
Homelessness response
Hilton described the homelessness crisis as “unacceptable,” adding that it is worse than he expected during his statewide campaign.
“It’s not just Los Angeles or San Francisco — it’s everywhere,” he said.
He said the first step is to move people off the streets, including through state intervention if local governments fail to act.
“If you’re living on the street, you can’t recover.”
Public safety
Hilton said crime is “out of control” and that a lack of consequences has demoralized both law enforcement and residents.
He criticized prison closures under the Newsom administration.
“They’ve shut down so many prisons that dangerous criminals have been sent back into communities or into already overcrowded county jails.”
His core proposal is to expand incarceration capacity to ensure “criminals are behind bars where they belong.”
Immigration stance
Hilton said he — like many Californians — supports legal immigration.
But when asked about migrants who followed legal processes but are now being detained at immigration courts, he argued that the system has been “broken for 50 years” and that enforcement is a federal responsibility.
“The question for the governor is: are you going to obstruct federal law enforcement? My answer is no.”
