Conservative Commentator and Author Steve Hilton Announces Candidacy for California Governor

Conservative writer and Fox News contributor Steve Hilton declared on April 22 his candidacy for the position of California’s next governor.

“It’s time to return California to its golden age,” the British-born Republican proclaimed to supporters assembled at Huntington Beach.

“It’s time to put an end to the prolonged failures of the Democratic Party. A new chapter awaits us.

“That’s my reason for running for governor—to make this beautiful state we cherish truly golden again.”

Governor Gavin Newsom is ineligible for re-election after serving two terms.

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At his rally on Tuesday, Hilton presented his strategy for rejuvenating California, which included tax reductions and the abolition of the state income tax for individuals earning $100,000 or less.

He stated his aim to restore “the California dream.”

“We will make this the premier place in America to establish and operate a business, not the worst,” Hilton declared.

He expressed his desire for everyone to achieve homeownership, remove bureaucratic obstacles hindering progress, and ensure “100 percent of our students meet state standards in math and English, prioritizing education over indoctrination in our schools.”

“This is how we revive the ladder of opportunity and reclaim the California dream,” Hilton emphasized. “We need to cultivate a movement—not red, not blue, but golden.”

Onstage, Hilton signed a petition advocating for voter ID in California, encouraging attendees to join him.

“We will fight for California,” he asserted. “We will save California. We will make this beautiful state that we love truly golden again.”

Hilton joins a packed lineup of candidates for the 2026 election to take over for Newsom.

California voters have not elected a Republican governor since Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger departed from office in 2011.

“What we have witnessed in the past 15 years of Democratic one-party governance is an ideological experiment,” Hilton stated.

Speculation has also emerged regarding whether former Vice President Kamala Harris, a resident of Southern California, might enter the race.

Unlike traditional primary elections in which each party selects its candidate for the general election, California’s primary allows voters to select the top two candidates regardless of their party affiliation.

Hilton was born in England to Hungarian immigrants who fled to the UK to escape communism. His mother sold shoes, and his stepfather was in construction. As noted on Hilton’s website, his father, who was a goalie for the Hungarian national ice hockey team, had passed away when the candidate was young.

His earliest political memory is of Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, a staunch ally of Ronald Reagan during his presidency. Reagan, of course, served as California’s governor prior to his presidency. Following his time at Oxford University, Hilton worked with the Conservative Party in England and under Thatcher.

“She ignited the spirit of enterprise in England,” Hilton remarked. “She was a source of inspiration for me.”

Hilton launched a few restaurants and later played a role in the election of Prime Minister David Cameron, serving as an advisor from 2010 to 2012.

In 2012, Hilton and his family made the move to California.

Hilton has taught at Stanford University, founded Crowdpac.com, a tech startup, and authored two books: “Califailure” and “Positive Populism.”

Numerous speakers voiced their support for Hilton at the Tuesday event, including celebrity chef and Huntington Beach City Councilor Andrew Gruel, State Sen. Tony Strickland, a Republican from Huntington Beach, and former State Sen. Gloria Romero, who was initially a Democrat before changing her party affiliation to Republican in 2024.

Former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, who is also running for governor in Ohio, extended his endorsement to Hilton.