Steve Hilton Advances to California Governor Runoff as Republican Challenger
Steve Hilton, a British-born Republican and former Fox News host, secured the second spot in California's November gubernatorial runoff, finishing behind Democrat Xavier Becerra with approximately 25% of the primary vote. Hilton has positioned himself as a pragmatic Republican offering change to a state struggling with housing costs and other challenges after 15 years of Democratic governance. His path to victory remains difficult given California's Democratic lean, low Trump approval ratings, and historical Republican struggles in statewide races.
Steve Hilton, who previously worked in British Conservative politics before immigrating to the United States 14 years ago, advanced to California's gubernatorial runoff election after finishing second in the primary with roughly 25% of the vote, trailing Democrat Xavier Becerra. Hilton's campaign emphasized his outsider status and pragmatic approach to addressing California's cost-of-living crisis, housing shortage, and other challenges he attributes to Democratic governance. His coalition includes working-class voters, Latino small business owners, religious conservatives, and Silicon Valley entrepreneurs, united by desire for change. Despite Trump's endorsement and Hilton's claims of cabinet connections, he faces significant headwinds including Trump's low approval ratings in California and the Republican party's 20-year drought in statewide victories. Hilton has begun distancing himself from Trump since the primary, emphasizing his pragmatism and cross-spectrum appeal rather than ideological alignment.
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- The Guardian USLeft
Who is Steve Hilton, the Briton who could become California’s next governor?
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