Trump endorses ex-UK political aide Steve Hilton for California governor

Trump Endorses Ex-UK Political Aide Steve Hilton for California Governor

Donald Trump, the US president, has thrown his support behind Steve Hilton, a former senior advisor to the late British prime minister David Cameron, in the race for California governor. This endorsement introduces an unexpected twist in a contest known for its unpredictability within a state dominated by Democratic voters.

“Democrats have done an absolutely horrendous job,” Trump claimed, emphasizing that “people are fleeing” the state. “Steve Hilton would be a great governor,” he added in a Truth Social post.

Hilton is among ten candidates vying for the June 2nd primary. The two candidates with the highest votes, irrespective of political affiliation, will progress to the November general election.

California’s statewide elections have not seen a Republican victory in over 20 years. Hilton, currently residing in California, held a prominent role in Cameron’s administration from 2010 to 2012. However, he later became critical of the Conservative leader’s approach to immigration.

Following his time with Cameron, Hilton became a Fox News host for several years and continues to engage with the conservative media outlet. His campaign centers on reducing taxes, trimming state expenditures, and addressing rising housing costs for households.

In 2012, Hilton became a visiting scholar at Stanford University in California, and he mentioned his application for US citizenship in 2019. The University of California, Berkeley’s Institute of Governmental Studies disrupted the political landscape in March, indicating that Hilton and Bianco had higher support than Democratic candidates.

Democratic leaders were sufficiently concerned that senior party officials urged certain candidates to withdraw from the race. The survey highlighted that Congressman Eric Swalwell, former Congresswoman Katie Porter, and billionaire environmental advocate Tom Steyer were leading the eight Democratic contenders.

However, Trump’s backing might position Hilton to overtake the other Republican candidate, Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, potentially opening the path for a Democrat to secure a strong showing.