Former Fox News host Steve Hilton is reportedly considering a run for California governor in 2026.
POLITICO reported that Hilton is seriously exploring a possible run to succeed Gov. Gavin Newsom.
The big picture: While Hilton has not publicly said if he will run for California’s highest office, he operates Golden Together, a bipartisan think tank focused on restoring the California Dream.
- Hilton was a senior policy and strategy advisor for former United Kingdom Prime Minister David Cameron.
- He joined Fox News as a writer in 2016 and launched his show – The Next Revolution – the following year.
- Hilton’s show ended last year, although he remains a contributor on Fox News. Fox News said at the time that Hilton was leaving to focus on Golden Together.
- Outside of his appearances on Fox News, Hilton may be a familiar name to Central Valley residents as he is a regular guest on KMJ with host Ray Appleton.
What we’re watching: If Hilton eventually launches a campaign for governor, he would be the first major Republican in the state to do so.
- So far the only Republican to file for the 2026 race has been Leo Zacky, the Vice President of Zacky Farms.
- In June, Republican leaders from across the state launched a coalition to urge Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco to enter the race. But Bianco has not made any official decision yet.
- Several high-profile Democrats are already jockeying to replace Newsom, starting with Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis. Former Senate President pro tempore Toni Atkins, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, former Controller Betty Yee and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa have all entered the race. Attorney General Rob Bonta and Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra are reportedly considering a run as well.
What they’re saying: Former California Republican Party Chair and state Senate GOP leader Jim Brulte confirmed to POLITICO that Hilton is mulling a run for governor.
- “He is thinking very seriously about running for governor and he is doing it in a very organized way,” Brulte said. “I know he’s talking to a lot of the right people because I have heard from a lot of the right people that he’s talking to them.”
