Will deep-blue California choose another failed leftist for governor in 2026, or have residents finally had enough of one-party rule that has pushed the state towards its rapid decline? A familiar face—a former Fox News anchor—is hoping it’s the latter and that when voters head to the polls they will opt to “make California the land of opportunity again” by choosing the first Republican since Arnold Schwarzenegger’s 2006 reelection.
On Monday, with the race wide open since Gov. Gavin Newsom is term-limited, Steve Hilton announced he was entering the race “to make this beautiful state that we love so much, truly golden again.”
In a video, the 55-year-old former Fox News personality details his upbringing in England, his business ventures and time in British politics, prior to moving to California in 2012. There, he founded a tech startup, taught at Stanford University, and hosted “The Next Revolution” on Fox News until 2023, though he has remained at the network as a contributor.
Now he says "it's time to end years of Democrat failure" in California.
“Let’s make California an inspiration, again, the very best of America,” Hilton said. “There’s only one way to do that. We’ve got to end the one-party rule that got us into this mess.”
California means to America what America means to the world.
— steve hilton (@SteveHiltonx) April 21, 2025
It’s time to end Democrat one-party rule and restore the California Dream:
☀️ Great Jobs
☀️ Great Homes
☀️ Great Kids
I'm running for governor to help make California truly Golden Again.
pic.twitter.com/ZlFKihyuKK
Prior to Hilton entering the race, recent polling showed former Vice President Kamala Harris as the frontrunner in a hypothetical gubernatorial contest, though voters were evenly split on whether she should run.
Hilton is the second major Republican candidate to announce his candidacy, following Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco.