President Donald Trump on April 6 endorsed former Fox News host Steve Hilton in the California governor’s race, a move that could deal a major blow to his Republican rival, Chad Bianco, and weaken GOP hopes of shutting Democrats out of the general election.
Writing on Truth Social, Trump praised Hilton as “a truly outstanding person” and criticized Governor Gavin Newsom, saying Hilton could “turn things around” and pledging presidential support.
According to the Los Angeles Times, the endorsement could significantly impact the already competitive race. A recent poll by the UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies and the newspaper shows Hilton and Bianco leading ahead of the June 2 primary, raising the possibility that Democrats could be excluded from the November runoff under California’s top-two primary system.
Some California Republicans had hoped a crowded Democratic field would split the vote and allow two Republicans to advance. However, Trump’s backing of Hilton may consolidate GOP support around him, making it harder for both Republicans to advance and increasing the chances that a Democrat secures a runoff spot.
Political data expert Rob Pyers noted on X that Trump’s endorsement could save Democratic groups tens of millions of dollars, which they might otherwise have spent boosting a Republican candidate to avoid being shut out of the general election.