Steve Hilton Leads California Primary Race, Condemns Newsom’s ‘Total Disaster’ Governance

California Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton expressed confidence Wednesday he is leading a competitive primary field after a new Emerson College poll showed him at 17% in the race for governor.

The poll, released with a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points, places Hilton ahead of Democrat Rep. Eric Swalwell and Republican Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, who are tied at 14%. Former Democrat Rep. Katie Porter polled at 10%, while Democrat businessman Tom Steyer received 9% of the vote, with 21% of likely voters undecided.

Hilton, during an appearance on “Bianca Across the Nation,” described the state’s economic conditions under Democratic leadership as “a total disaster” and noted the highest poverty rates, unemployment, cost of living, and other challenges.

“We’ve been working hard,” Hilton said. “We’ve been traveling the state up and down town halls just in the last couple of months.”

He added that his campaign’s message is clear: “We can’t go on with 16 years of one-party rule in California.”

Hilton criticized Governor Gavin Newsom for his recent international travel and comments on national politics. “It’s disgusting that he’s running around Europe attacking our president while his own state is a total disaster,” Hilton said.

He also noted that Newsom has been neglecting the state’s critical issues, including wildfire recovery efforts: “We talk about MAGA for President Trump, Newsom’s a MUGA — the most useless governor in America.”

Hilton contrasted Newsom with former President Donald Trump, stating that Trump is taking action on the nation’s problems while Newsom remains an “empty talker.”

Hilton emphasized that voters are increasingly focused on daily concerns such as cost of living and economic stability.