Trump Endorses Steve Hilton for California Governor, Reshaping 2026 Primary With MAGA Backing

President Donald Trump endorsed former Fox News host Steve Hilton for governor of California in a late-night Truth Social post Monday, declaring that the British-born media personality and ex-adviser to Prime Minister David Cameron has his "COMPLETE & TOTAL ENDORSEMENT" and would be "a GREAT Governor." The posting, which landed as Trump simultaneously faced a deadline over the Iran war, has the potential to reshape the crowded primary race ahead of California's June 2 jungle primary — in which the top two vote-getters advance to the November general election regardless of party affiliation.

Trump wrote: "Steve Hilton has my COMPLETE & TOTAL ENDORSEMENT. He will be a GREAT Governor. With Federal help, and a Great Governor, like Steve Hilton, California can be better than ever before!" The endorsement came just days after the latest public polling showed Hilton leading the Republican field at 17 percent, with Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco close behind at 16 percent. On the Democratic side, more than eight candidates — including Rep. Eric Swalwell, former Health Secretary Xavier Becerra, and ex-Rep. Katie Porter — have splintered the vote, with no single Democrat exceeding double digits in some recent surveys.

California's jungle primary system presents an unusual strategic challenge: a Republican endorsement surge could actually backfire on Democrats. Democratic strategist Paul Mitchell's modeling puts the chance of two Republicans advancing to the November general at roughly 27 percent, a scenario that last occurred in 2010 and resulted in a bruising all-GOP Senate runoff that damaged both parties. Republican candidates have not won a California statewide race since 2006, but with 27 candidates in the field and the Democratic vote fragmented, the possibility of an all-Republican November race is being taken seriously by party operatives in Sacramento.

Hilton, who hosts the Fox News program "The Next Revolution," moved to California's Silicon Valley in the 2010s and became a naturalized U.S. citizen. He was a close adviser to David Cameron's Conservative government in Britain and later worked on early versions of Brexit strategy before departing for American media. His campaign has focused on California's cost-of-living crisis, housing affordability, crime, and immigration enforcement — themes that overlap heavily with Trump's national agenda. The endorsement gives Hilton a significant fundraising boost and access to the MAGA ground operation that has become decisive in Republican primaries nationwide.

Governor Gavin Newsom is term-limited and cannot seek re-election, making the 2026 race the most open contest for the state's top office in years. Democratic candidates have largely sought to distance themselves from the Biden era while positioning against Trump's federal agenda, arguing that California needs a governor who will stand up to Washington on issues like tariffs, immigration enforcement, and Medicaid cuts. Political analysts are watching whether Trump's Hilton endorsement consolidates the Republican base quickly enough to produce a plurality, or whether the Democratic field narrows before the June 2 primary filing deadline.