All articles tagged with #steve hilton
Xavier Becerra surged to the early lead in California’s open-ballot governor primary, leapfrogging rivals to become the frontrunner as Tom Steyer and Steve Hilton vie for the top two spots to replace Gavin Newsom in November.
Voters across several states vote in primaries that will signal Democratic mood and Trump-era GOP dynamics ahead of the midterms. In California, a jungle primary could lead to a three-way race for governor featuring Xavier Becerra, Steve Hilton and Tom Steyer, while Los Angeles’s mayoral contest could pit incumbent Karen Bass against reality TV figure Spencer Pratt; San Francisco’s race to replace Nancy Pelosi adds to the high-stakes lineup. With President Trump’s approval at a record low, Democrats are hopeful about retaking Congress, while Iowa’s crowded GOP field tests Trump’s grip despite a nomination threshold and potential delays in tallying results.
Steve Hilton, once a central figure in David Cameron’s rise and a later Fox News host, is vying for a top-two slot in California’s gubernatorial primary, potentially breaking new ground for a British strategist in U.S. politics. Polls have him near or tied with Democrat Xavier Becerra, and even if he loses in November, advancing to the runoff would give him a platform to push his disruption-focused agenda. Critics question whether his campaign success translates into effective governance, while supporters argue his unorthodox approach could shake up California’s entrenched politics.
Democratic gubernatorial frontrunner Xavier Becerra leads Emerson College Polling’s final California primary survey with 28% support, ahead of Tom Steyer at 22% and Steve Hilton at 21%; Republican Chad Bianco has 12%, while Democrats Katie Porter and Matt Mahan each have 5%. Becerra leads among Democrats (44%), Hispanics (36%), and women (36%), while Hilton dominates Republicans (59%). Steyer performs best among voters under 30 and white voters. The top-two vote-getters advance to November; the poll surveyed 1,000 likely voters May 27–28.
Berkeley IGS/LA Times poll shows Xavier Becerra leading California’s June 2 gubernatorial primary with 25% support, followed by Steve Hilton at 21% and Tom Steyer at 19%; turnout remains uncertain and the jungle primary keeps the top two finishers in play, with Hilton benefiting from Trump’s endorsement and Steyer leading in fundraising; the race remains wide open with implications for November and state policy debates such as healthcare funding, inflation, and voting rights.
A PPIC poll ahead of California’s June 2 primary shows Democrat Xavier Becerra and Republican Steve Hilton leading the governor’s race, setting up a likely top-two showdown in November. Democrats hold a near two-to-one edge overall, with Becerra’s surge after Swalwell’s exit reshaping the field. The top-two primary system remains popular among voters, even as Democrats and Republicans debate potential reforms.
A PPIC poll ahead of California's June 2 primary shows Xavier Becerra at 23% and Steve Hilton at 20%, followed by Tom Steyer at 15%, Chad Bianco at 13%, and Katie Porter at 12%; no other candidates reach double digits. The top two vote-getters will advance to November, and while two Democrats could still win, current momentum favors Becerra and Hilton.
As California primaries approach, Steve Hilton and Spencer Pratt need strong Latino turnout to upend expectations, but backing Donald Trump risks alienating Latino voters who have grown skeptical of the president. The column argues Latinos are a pivotal, volatile swing bloc in California politics—much more responsive to local issues and economic concerns than national partisan labels—and notes polling showing waning Latino support for Trump. Hilton’s embrace of Trump and Pratt’s mixed signals are criticized as misreading the landscape; unless they decisively distance themselves from Trump and prioritize resonant Latino-focused messaging and policy, their chances of pulling off a historic upset remain slim.
Former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra faced a barrage of attacks at a contentious 90-minute California governor debate, amid his former campaign manager’s federal guilty plea, while Republicans coalesced behind Steve Hilton and Democrats remained divided between Becerra and Tom Steyer as they debated affordability, housing, climate and healthcare ahead of the June 2 primary.
In the final California governor debate before the June primary, Democratic frontrunner Xavier Becerra faced a coordinated assault from six rivals over ethics, fundraising, and the Dana Williamson campaign-finance case, with Porter pressing for a concrete revenue plan. San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan framed himself as a reformer and clashed with Republican Steve Hilton, who, along with fellow GOP candidate Chad Bianco, sought to consolidate the right’s path in blue California. The candidates also sparred over housing and tax credits, and debated AI regulation, with all but Hilton signaling support for tighter chatbot rules. The debate served as a last personal appeal to voters ahead of the primary.
CNN’s California gubernatorial debate yielded no fireworks, but analysts saw Xavier Becerra steadying as the front-runner, Antonio Villaraigosa delivering a comeback performance, Steve Hilton consolidating Republican support, and Chad Bianco taking the biggest hit for conspiracy-tinged rhetoric; Katie Porter showed strength on issues like single-payer but faced questions about temperament, while Tom Steyer offered energetic, reform‑minded contrast; with mail ballots already arriving, the race remains unsettled a month before the June 2 primary.
Trump-endorsed California gubernatorial hopeful Steve Hilton joined Gloria Romero in calling for an unlimited state film and TV incentive, arguing that California’s industry is at risk and must outcompete other locations. He would remove the current $750 million cap and seek a combined California–federal rebate totaling about 60%, including above-the-line salaries, framing it as a form of tax relief with long-term economic benefits. Hilton has met with Hollywood groups and Jon Voight, and his proposal feeds into a broader debate about film subsidies as rival hubs like Georgia offer uncapped credits.
At California’s GOP convention, delegates declined to endorse Donald Trump’s pick for governor. Sheriff Chad Bianco led at 49% with Steve Hilton at 44%, but neither reached the 60% threshold needed for an endorsement, underscoring limited Trump influence in the state despite his backing. Delegates and insiders also weigh GOP prospects in midterms and national polarization surrounding Trump.
Steve Hilton criticized Nikki Haley for her response to Donald Trump's primary win in New Hampshire, calling it "stunningly bad judgment" and suggesting that she attacked Trump more aggressively than ever before in her post-race speech. Despite Trump's victory, Haley vowed to keep fighting as the race now heads to her home state of South Carolina.