Republican Steve Hilton, a former Fox News host and advisor to former UK Prime Minister David Cameron, is projected to advance to the November general election for California governor. He will compete against Democrat Xavier Becerra, the ex-U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary and California Attorney General, who gained momentum after former Rep. Eric Swalwell exited the race. Becerra surpassed Hilton in the vote count, leading to CBS News projecting his advancement. Hilton secured the second spot in California’s top-two primary, edging out Democratic billionaire environmentalist Tom Steyer. If elected, Hilton would be California’s first Republican governor since Arnold Schwarzenegger left office in 2011. Hilton has positioned his campaign as a call for change amid a Democratic supermajority in the state Legislature, emphasizing the need for a new direction for California.
Why It Matters
This election is significant as it reflects the current political dynamics in California, a state that has been predominantly Democratic for over a decade. The last Republican governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, served until 2011, and since then, the Democratic Party has maintained a supermajority in the state legislature. Hilton’s candidacy, bolstered by an endorsement from former President Trump, highlights ongoing divisions within California politics and the potential for a Republican resurgence in a traditionally blue state. The outcome of the election may influence future legislative priorities and the overall political landscape in California.
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