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President Donald Trump endorsed Republican Steve Hilton for California governor, reshaping attention on a crowded contest for the nation’s most populous state ahead of its June 2 primary, the Associated Press reported.
Trump made the announcement late Sunday on his Truth Social platform, saying he has known Hilton for years and describing him as “a truly fine man” in a post that also tied the endorsement to the state’s tax burden. Trump wrote that California “has gone to hell,” and added, “With Federal help, and a Great Governor, like Steve Hilton, California can be better than ever!”
The endorsement landed about a month before mail ballots go to voters in advance of the June 2 primary. AP said the timing could help Hilton draw and hold conservative support in a race with no clear leader, even as Trump remains unpopular with many voters in heavily Democratic California outside his base.
AP reported that Democratic strategists have been concerned about the state’s “top two” system, which could restrict the November ballot to only two Republicans in a scenario where two GOP candidates finish first and second. Trump’s move, AP said, could make that outcome less likely by helping Hilton “lure additional support” and strengthen his position among conservatives.
In comments AP attributed to Democratic consultant Paul Mitchell, Mitchell characterized Trump’s endorsement as advantageous for Republicans. Mitchell called the endorsement “the safe bet” and said Republicans should use Trump’s backing to consolidate behind Hilton rather than count on a scenario where both Hilton and GOP rival Chad Bianco reach the general election ballot or risk the possibility that both fall short.
Hilton thanked Trump for his support in a statement, AP reported. Hilton said he would work to grow jobs and bring down the state’s “punishing cost of living,” adding, “Together we can turn things around.”
AP also described Bianco’s response, saying Bianco posted a video on X that argued the race is “about the future of California, not any one endorsement.” In the video, Bianco posted a photo of Hilton hugging outgoing Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom at a 2016 charity event, and Bianco said, “I have repeatedly said that a Fox News host courting a president’s endorsement will never win in California.”
The campaign environment has already drawn a large field, AP reported, with more than 50 candidates on the ballot, including eight established Democrats. Hilton and Bianco were described by AP as the leading Republicans in the race, and it noted that Democrats outnumber Republicans in California by nearly 2-to-1 among registered voters. AP also said an all-GOP general election is possible because all candidates appear on one primary ballot and only the top two vote-getters advance to November regardless of party.