A surprise endorsement from former U.S. President Donald Trump has upended the already chaotic race for California governor, turning a deeply blue state’s typically predictable primary into one of the most watched political contests of 2026. In a post to his social platform Truth Social, Trump threw his full support behind Republican candidate Steve Hilton, a one-time top policy advisor to former British Prime Minister David Cameron who has built a public profile as a conservative commentator in the U.S.
Trump’s endorsement framed the race as a referendum on decades of one-party rule in California, arguing that Democratic governance has produced catastrophic outcomes pushing residents to leave the state in droves. “Steve Hilton will be a great governor,” Trump wrote in his post.
Hilton, who moved to the U.S. more than a decade ago and currently serves as a contributor to Fox News, quickly responded to the endorsement on X, saying he was “deeply honored” to earn the backing of the Republican former president. Hilton entered the race on a platform centered on cutting state taxes, reining in bloated state government spending, and lowering the cost of living for working families, particularly for housing and essential consumer goods.
The candidate’s unusual political origin story sets him apart from other contenders: after serving as Cameron’s senior aide from 2010 to 2012 during his tenure as British prime minister, Hilton broke with Cameron over his immigration policy, eventually relocating to California where he took a position as a visiting scholar at Stanford University in 2012. He began the process of applying for U.S. citizenship in 2019, and hosted his own primetime show on Fox News for several years before becoming a regular contributor.
California uses a nonpartisan “jungle primary” system for statewide offices, where all candidates regardless of party appear on the same June 2 primary ballot, and the top two vote-getters advance to the November general election. This year, 10 candidates are vying for the seat: 8 Democrats and 2 Republicans, Hilton and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco.
For the first time in 20 years, California Republicans see a rare opening to capture the governor’s mansion. A March 2026 poll from the University of California, Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies sent shockwaves through state political circles when it found both Hilton and Bianco leading all Democratic candidates in early preference. The surprising result left Democratic leaders alarmed, prompting top state party officials to pressure lower-polling Democratic candidates to drop out of the race to avoid splitting the vote. The poll showed Congressman Eric Swalwell, former Congresswoman Katie Porter, and billionaire climate activist Tom Steyer leading the fractured field of eight Democratic contenders.
However, Trump’s high-profile endorsement of Hilton creates new uncertainty for both parties. Political analysts note that Trump’s backing could be a double-edged sword for Hilton: while it consolidates conservative support behind his campaign, it may turn off moderate and independent voters in the heavily liberal state, hurting his chances in a general election against a Democratic opponent. For the other Republican candidate Bianco, the endorsement threatens to squeeze his support out entirely, potentially leaving only one Republican viable for the top two spots, a dynamic that could still open the door for two Democrats to advance. Even with the early polling advantage for the GOP, the state’s long Democratic streak and deep partisan lean mean the race remains far from settled, with all eyes turning to the June primary to see how Trump’s endorsement shifts voter preferences.