Republican Steve Hilton expressed optimism Wednesday that he will advance past California’s primary into the November general election, as vote counting continued and the race remained too early to call. The former Fox News host and adviser to British Prime Minister David Cameron addressed supporters Tuesday night in Southern California, painting the state as one of untapped potential that had fallen under years of Democratic control.
“We have a responsibility to revive California so it is once again that symbol of everything that is great about our nation: energy and optimism and ambition,” Hilton said during his election night speech.
On Wednesday, Hilton said he remained hopeful that voters would send him into a head-to-head contest to replace outgoing Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, who is term-limited. The Associated Press had not called any candidate as the winner as of Wednesday afternoon.
Hilton, the sole major Republican in the race, is seeking to become California’s first Republican governor in more than 15 years. He has campaigned on a message that the state’s Democratic leadership has driven away businesses, raised taxes, and failed to address homelessness and housing costs.
Early returns showed Hilton and Democratic former state Attorney General Xavier Becerra leading, with Democratic billionaire activist Tom Steyer trailing slightly. The top-two primary system means the two candidates with the most votes, regardless of party, will face off in November. If the current leading pair holds, Hilton would advance to a November contest against a Democrat in a state where Democrats outnumber Republicans by a wide margin.
California has a history of significant late vote updates that can alter the initial election-night picture. Mail ballots that arrive after Election Day and drop-off votes are still being processed, meaning the final order could shift. With a large number of ballots still uncounted, election officials said no final results are expected for days or weeks.
The possibility of a Republican advancing has injected uncertainty into what is typically a solidly Democratic state. Hilton has consistently attacked the status quo in Sacramento, arguing that Democratic policies have made California unaffordable and driven out middle-class families. He has positioned himself as a pragmatic conservative focused on cutting taxes, reducing regulation, and making the state more business-friendly.
Democrats are running a wide field, which analysts say has split the party’s vote and given Hilton a chance to capture one of the two general-election spots. The crowded primary has tested party unity, with Becerra, Steyer, and several other Democrats competing for the same pool of voters.
Hilton’s background as a former Cameron strategist and Fox News host has given him a national profile but also made him a target for Democrats who argue he represents the same Republican policies that are unpopular in California, particularly on immigration and the environment.
The eventual winner of the primary will face the other top vote-getter in a general election that could be one of the most competitive California governor’s races in years. Voter turnout in the primary was moderate, but the state’s 22 million registered voters — nearly 47% Democratic and 24% Republican — will be closely watched in November.