A popular Fox News personality who had his own show for years is reportedly considering a run for governor of California.
Steve Hilton, 55, the former host of Fox News’ “The Next Revolution,” is considering a run for the California executive position, several people familiar with the matter have told him. Politics.
Hilton had a Fox News show from 2017 to 2023 and is now a regular guest contributor. Since serving as an adviser to former British Prime Minister David Cameron from 2010 to 2012, Hilton has significantly increased his profile in the U.S.
The London-born former consultant recently settled on the posh San Francisco Peninsula, home to venture capitalists and NBA superstars like Steph Curry.
And since the longtime political commentator received his citizenship in 2021, now might be the right time to run for outgoing President Newsom in 2026.
Fox News contributor Steve Hilton attends the premiere of ‘Reagan’ at the TCL Chinese Theatre on August 20, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. Politico reports that he is considering a bid for governor of California, and is seen here wearing a red, white and blue Golden State pin
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Newsom was elected in 2022 with just under 60 percent of the vote in a race against Republican Sen. Brian Dhale.
The Democrat raised nearly ten times as much money as the Republican, indicating that Hilton faces an uphill battle to gain any support as the Republican candidate.
“He’s very serious about running for governor and he’s taking a very organized approach to it,” Jim Brulte, former chairman of the California Republican Party, said of Hilton’s ambitions.
“I know he’s talking to the right people because I’ve heard from the right people that he’s talking to them.”
Democrats have dominated the state for much of the past decade. The last Republican to serve as governor was Arnold Schwarzenegger from 2003 to 2011.
Hilton had his own show on Fox News from 2017 to 2023
California Governor Gavin Newsom to step down after his second term as governor ends in 2026
But the TV personality has built a strong network of connections in Silicon Valley.
Hilton founded Crowdpac, a technology startup focused on political campaigns, in 2014, and served as CEO of the startup until 2018.
He has also taught at Stanford University.
In numerous interviews and appearances, Hilton has spoken about the issues facing the Golden State: homelessness, crime, housing shortages, strict regulations on businesses and water scarcity.
He is so passionate about the state that last year he started a group to restore the “California Dream,” called Golden Together.
And Lanhee Chen, a member of Golden Together’s board of directors and a former GOP candidate for California state controller and Republican Senate counsel, thinks Hilton has a good chance in the upcoming election.
“The Democrats are basically all clones of each other,” he told Politico. “It’s not like they have a universally recognized name.”
“So it will be interesting and it could create a political opportunity.”
“Everyone knows the challenges” for Republicans in the state, he continued, “but no status quo lasts forever, so let’s see what happens.”