The 2026 California governor’s race shifted as Republican Steve Hilton, former Fox News host and U.K.-born entrepreneur, announced his candidacy to replace Democrat Gavin Newsom.
Hilton pledged to “Make California Golden Again,” criticizing one-party Democratic rule and focusing on issues like poverty, homelessness, and high living costs.
Backed by Vivek Ramaswamy, Hilton also compared California to Britain in the 1970s, calling it the “sick man of America.” Despite Democrats’ dominance in the state legislature, polls show 48% of likely voters are open to a GOP candidate.
Democrats eyeing the race include Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis, Xavier Becerra, and Katie Porter. Former Vice President Kamala Harris is also a possible contender.
California faces challenges like wildfire recovery, rising crime, and mass departures of residents due to high taxes and housing costs.
