Fresh off securing a spot in California’s gubernatorial showdown, Republican Steve Hilton is introducing himself to voters with a deeply personal campaign video tracing his journey from the son of refugees fleeing communism to a candidate seeking the state’s highest office.
Hilton advanced to November’s general election against Democrat Xavier Becerra Tuesday after surviving a chaotic primary race that featured 61 candidates and took more than a week to settle as mail ballots continued to be counted.
According to the Associated Press, Becerra finished first with 27.9% of the vote, while Hilton captured 25%, securing second place under California’s top-two primary system.
Now, Hilton is attempting to frame the race as a referendum on California’s direction.
“It all started with freedom,” Hilton says.
“My parents fled communism in Hungary. So I was born in England, raised in a working class home. My mom worked at the shoe store, my dad did construction. Like so many immigrant families, they just wanted a better life.”
Hilton recounts building businesses, working in British politics and helping elect a prime minister before moving to California in 2012 with his wife and two sons.
“In 2012, with my wife and two sons, I moved to America — to California, the ultimate expression of America, the home of freedom.”
The video highlights his years teaching at Stanford University, launching businesses, writing books and becoming a US citizen before pivoting to a blistering critique of the Golden State.
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“But also a reminder of the madness: masks, lockdowns, school closures. What happened here? Chaos, crime, costs, collapse.”
Hilton closes by casting himself as an outsider capable of shaking up Sacramento.
“This campaign is not about Democrat or Republican. It’s about common sense, change, practical solutions,” he says.
“I’m not a politician. I’m an outsider running for governor to shake up a broken system… cut your costs, help your business, fix our schools.”
The former Fox News host’s path to the general election wasn’t always certain. After a strong election night showing, Hilton watched his lead steadily shrink as additional ballots were counted.
Still, he held onto second place and knocked out a field that included billionaire Tom Steyer, Rep. Katie Porter, former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, state schools chief Tony Thurmond and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco.
