Trump Moves to Boost Hilton, Disrupting GOP Strategy in California Race
Donald Trump has endorsed Republican Steve Hilton in California’s governor race, injecting new momentum into a volatile primary just months before voting begins.
The move is already raising new questions about whether it helps Republicans or disrupts their strategy in a state where they rarely win statewide elections.
According to the Associated Press and Reuters, Trump issued a “complete & total endorsement” of Hilton on Truth Social, backing the former Fox News host as a candidate who could “turn it around.” Hilton, a former adviser to UK Prime Minister David Cameron, is running in a crowded field to replace term-limited Gov. Gavin Newsom.
But California’s top-two primary system complicates the impact. Republicans had been split between Hilton and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, a divide some strategists believed could push multiple GOP candidates into the final round.
“Steve Hilton has my COMPLETE & TOTAL ENDORSEMENT,” Trump wrote in his post.
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The endorsement could now consolidate Republican voters behind Hilton, potentially weakening Bianco while reshaping the broader field.
That shift carries risk. Analysts note Trump remains unpopular with a majority of California voters, meaning his backing could energize Democrats or limit Hilton’s appeal in a general election.
The race already includes high-profile Democrats such as Rep. Eric Swalwell and former Rep. Katie Porter, with polling showing no clear frontrunner.
What happens next will depend on whether Trump’s endorsement unifies Republican voters or redraws the path to November entirely.
The outcome could reshape one of the most unpredictable governor’s races in years.
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