Steve Hilton, a Republican, has secured a spot in the general election for California governor, where he will compete against Democrat Xavier Becerra, a former state attorney general and health secretary under President Biden. This election is notable as California has nearly double the number of registered Democrats compared to Republicans, making Hilton's path to victory challenging.
If he wins, he would be the first Republican to hold statewide office in California since 2006. Hilton's campaign has focused on addressing the state's high cost of living and homelessness, proposing measures such as eliminating income tax on the first $100,000 earned, creating a loan program for first-time homebuyers, and freezing tuition at public colleges.
His endorsement by former President Donald Trump helped him gain support among Republican voters during the primary, although it may pose challenges in the general election. Hilton, who emigrated from the UK in 2012 and became a U.S. citizen in 2021, has emphasized his family's history of fleeing communism as a key influence on his conservative beliefs