Former Fox News host Steve Hilton filed to run for California governor as a Republican.
Hilton has been mulling a run for the governor’s office for weeks and has yet to announce his candidacy. However, the California Secretary of State website listed “Hilton for Governor” as a campaign committee registered with the state. He also reposted a post by California Republican Assembly leader James Gallagher complaining of inflation and rising utility and rent costs. In his post, Hilton wrote, “YES but change is on the way! Stay tuned!”
While on Fox, Hilton hosted the Next Revolution for three seasons from 2017 until 2023. He currently runs a non-partisan organization called Golden Together, which is focused on “working to develop/advocate positive, practical policy to solve California’s problems,” according to the organization.
Originally from Great Britain and the former adviser to former U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron, Hilton has lived in California since 2012, but became a U.S. citizen in 2021.
In his new book, Califailure: Reversing the Ruin of America’s Worst-Run State, Hilton argues that the state’s Democrats’ policies are responsible for homelessness and the housing crisis in the Golden State.
“It’s just impossible for people to even imagine owning their own home,” Hilton said at an event earlier this month. “That used to be the ‘California dream’ as we think about it — very basic things, a good job that pays enough to raise your family in the home of your own in a safe neighborhood with a good school, so your kids have a better life than you. Owning your home is an absolutely central part of that.”
Hilton joins just one other Republican candidate who has announced a candidacy for governor. Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, who has more than 30 years in law enforcement, announced his bid for California governor in February.
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On the Democratic side, more than half a dozen Democrats have announced bids, including former Rep. Katie Porter, former State Senate President pro tempore Toni Atkins, and Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis. However, many are waiting on former Vice President Kamala Harris to decide if she will run for the position.
The Washington Examiner reached out to Hilton for comment.