Former Fox News host Steve Hilton is running for California governor

SACRAMENTO, California — A New Hope for the GOP?

In a bold move that has sent ripples through California’s political waters, former Fox News host Steve Hilton has officially thrown his hat into the gubernatorial ring. On Monday, his campaign confirmed his bid to become California’s first Republican governor since the terminator himself, Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Hilton, who previously served as an adviser to British Prime Minister David Cameron, has clearly been marinating on this decision for some time. His recent book lambasts the Democratic leadership in California, outlining what he perceives as systemic failures and offering a smorgasbord of policy solutions. Joining him in the 2026 gubernatorial race is Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, making Hilton the second significant Republican contender to announce.

In a rather strategic move, Hilton’s launch video invokes former Vice President Kamala Harris, who is also eyeing the governor’s mansion. “It’s time to end the years of Democrat failure,” he declares, paired with an image of Harris that practically screams, “Look over here!” It’s a classic case of political chess, where imagery and rhetoric collide for maximum effect.

“Let’s make California an inspiration, again, the very best of America,” Hilton continues, as if he’s channeling a modern-day Franklin D. Roosevelt. “We’ve got to end the one-party rule that got us into this mess.” Such lofty aspirations raise the question: is California truly in a mess, or are we simply witnessing the inevitable growing pains of a diverse and dynamic state?

Republicans in California have often found themselves in a tight spot during recent statewide elections, typically rallying behind a singular candidate to emerge from the state’s unique “jungle primary,” where the top two candidates, regardless of party affiliation, advance to the general election. Hilton’s entry positions him in direct competition with Bianco, setting the stage for a showdown as they vie for party allegiance by June of next year.

As Hilton navigates the months ahead, his performance will serve as a litmus test—not just for his own support relative to Bianco’s, but also for the broader conservative movement’s viability in California, a state where Republicans have often felt sidelined, despite enjoying some electoral victories in down-ballot races this past November.

Having relocated to California from Britain in 2012, Hilton brings an eclectic mix of experiences to the table. He has taught at Stanford University, founded the tech startup Crowdpac, and until 2023, hosted “The Next Revolution” on Fox News, where he continues to contribute. His admiration for President Donald Trump and former UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher is evident in his campaign rhetoric, which adds a layer of intrigue to his political persona.

Hilton has already filed the necessary paperwork to run and has scheduled a public event in Huntington Beach—a bastion of conservatism in Orange County—for Tuesday. Whether this marks the beginning of a significant political journey or just another chapter in California’s long history of gubernatorial aspirations remains to be seen.