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RandySF

(84,469 posts)
Mon Apr 6, 2026, 05:33 AM 6 hrs ago

CA-GOV: Trump endorses Steve Hilton in California governor's race

Donald Trump endorsed former Fox News host Steve Hilton in the California governor’s race early Monday morning, dealing a potentially fatal blow to GOP rival Chad Bianco’s campaign — and to Republicans’ hopes of locking Democrats out of the runoff.

“I have known and respected Steve Hilton, who is running for Governor of California, for many years. He is a truly fine man, one who has watched as this once great State has gone to Hell,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, before bemoaning the state’s leadership under Gov. Gavin Newsom. “Steve can turn it around, before it is too late, and, as President, I will help him to do so!”

Trump’s intervention comes despite some California Republicans arguing that the party’s best, if narrow, shot at the governor’s mansion depended on him staying out of the contest in this heavily Democratic state. Republicans had been hoping that a large field of Democrats would split the vote in California’s jungle primary, allowing two Republicans to advance. But with Trump boosting Hilton, it becomes more unlikely that he and Bianco, the Riverside County sheriff, will be able to evenly split the GOP vote and keep Democrats out of the run-off.

The endorsement may also spare Democrats from having to spend heavily to boost one of the Republican candidates themselves — a strategy they have employed in several races in the past.



https://www.politico.com/news/2026/04/06/trump-endorses-steve-hilton-in-california-governors-race-00859470?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=dlvr.it

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CA-GOV: Trump endorses Steve Hilton in California governor's race (Original Post) RandySF 6 hrs ago OP
Great news! Stupid AF Trumpy strikes again. Celerity 6 hrs ago #1
Dems need to strategically thin out their large herd of candidates Zambero 1 hr ago #2
Isn't his endorsement a kiss of death? leftstreet 1 hr ago #3

Zambero

(9,991 posts)
2. Dems need to strategically thin out their large herd of candidates
Mon Apr 6, 2026, 10:51 AM
1 hr ago

so that two far-right Republicans in a smaller GOP field don't float to te top for a general election matchup. it's certainly a plausible sceanrio, but also preventable, provided applied election strategy overrides an excess of personal ambition. Swalwell, Porter, and Steyer in particular need to gauge their relative standing with voters and make informed decisions as to whether staying in the race is in the best interest of assuring a Democratic victory come November.

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