Republican · California governor · 2026
Steve Hilton
Hilton was born in London to Hungarian parents and built his first political career in Britain, advising Prime Minister David Cameron.
Biography
Steve Hilton's working life has included advertising, political strategy and a London restaurant called The Good Cook, which he cofounded.1 He and his wife, Rachel Whetstone, have two children; the family moved to California in 2012.21
Born in Britain to Hungarian refugee parents, Hilton attended Oxford before working in Conservative politics and at the advertising agency Saatchi & Saatchi.1 He cofounded the consulting firm Good Business and later returned to politics to help David Cameron, serving as a senior adviser to the British prime minister from 2010 to 2012.13
In California, his work included teaching at Stanford and cofounding Crowdpac, a platform for raising political campaign money.1 He hosted Fox News' weekly political program The Next Revolution from 2017 to 2023 and became a U.S. citizen in 2021.34 His books include More Human and Positive Populism, exploring how government and business organize power.1
Hilton proposes eliminating state income tax on the first $150,000 of earnings, applying a flat rate above that and halving the gas tax.3 He also wants fewer fees and restrictions on building starter homes.3 He faces Democrat Xavier Becerra in the contest to replace Governor Gavin Newsom after both advanced from the June primary.5
Record and controversies
Paid promoters complaint
Becerra supporters filed a campaign finance complaint alleging inadequate disclosure of Hilton's paid online promoters.6 The newspaper documented payments to two men producing material critical of Becerra; Hilton's campaign said they were paid to locate interviewees and film interviews, rather than to invent testimony.6 His spokesman said promoters were instructed to add disclaimers after the newspaper asked questions, and denied that the young interviewees were paid.6 The cited account reports a complaint and documented campaign spending, rather than a regulatory finding that the testimony was fabricated.6