Former Fox News Host Steve Hilton announced on Monday that he is running for California governor.
Hilton announced his campaign on social media, writing that it is “time to make California Golden Again” and provide balance to the state after “15 years of Democrat one-party rule.”
“Look at these pictures. The chaos. The crime. The collapse of the California dream,” said Hilton in a video while highlighting the effects of the COVID pandemic.
“This is not just any other state. California means to America what America means to the world. Let’s make California the land of opportunity again.”
Hilton confirmed his campaign during an interview with Fox News, telling the publication that he hopes to improve the conditions for the state’s “working people.”
“A big decision that I’ve made, which I can now share with you, that I am, in fact, going to be running for governor of California for 2026. I love this state. It’s the best place in the world as far as I’m concerned,” he explained.
“But after 15 years of one-party rule, this state is barely recognizable. And I honestly think that the 2026 election in California is a life-or-death moment because if we continue with this one-party rule by the Democrats, things are just gonna really start to deteriorate very rapidly.”
Hilton is now the second notable Republican candidate to enter the race, joining Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco in the race to unseat Gov. Gavin Newsom.
Hilton grew up in the U.K. and worked as the Head of Strategy for British Prime Minister David Cameron before moving to California in 2012.
After moving to California, Hilton taught at Stanford University and became a prominent figure in Silicon Valley after founding the tech startup Crowdpac.
Hilton will now face a difficult path to being elected governor, as California has not elected a Republican to that role since Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2006.
Additionally, 52% of California adults approve of the job being done by Newsom, according to a poll conducted by the Public Policy Institute of California.
Conyers Davis, an advisor to former Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, believes Hilton has a chance to make history and be elected governor of the state.
“Fortune favors the bold. It is an uphill battle for a Republican to win statewide office, but if bold people like Steve don’t emerge, Republicans aren’t going to win,” he said, per The LA Times.