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Who is Steve Hilton? What to know about the California governor candidate

Portrait of Daniella Segura Daniella Segura
Palm Springs Desert Sun
April 10, 2026Updated April 15, 2026, 6:01 p.m. ET

With California's June primary nearing, voters will soon decide which two gubernatorial candidates will face off in November's general election.

Here’s a clear, factual look at who Steve Hilton is, what he stands for, and how his record compares — designed to help readers make informed decisions.

Who is Steve Hilton?

  • Age: 56
  • Party: Republican
  • Current role: Business owner / conservative political commentator
  • Home region: Atherton, San Mateo County
  • First entered politics: 1990 in the UK

Hilton is a former Fox News host and U.K. political strategist who is running for California governor on a platform focused on reducing taxes for workers and ending "the bureaucratic war on business."

Background and career

  • Education: Oxford University
  • Professional background: Hilton is a conservative political commentator, author, and former government strategist. He also has roots in the tech sector, having co-founded Crowdpac, a political crowdfunding platform in 2013.
  • Political experience:
  • Notable accomplishments:
    • In 2017, The New York Times said Hilton was "credited as designing the modernized British Conservative image that helped get Mr. Cameron’s party elected in 2010." 

Why Steve Hilton is running

Hilton is running for California governor to "end the one-party rule" in the state, aiming to reverse state policies on energy, crime, and education, according to his campaign website. Hilton calls for restoring the California dream of a single-family home for every family.

“California means to America what America means to the world. Let’s make California the land of opportunity again — great jobs, great homes, great kids. Let’s make California an inspiration again, the very best of America,” Hilton said in a video announcing his candidacy last April. “There’s only one way to do that. We’ve got to end the one-party rule that got us into this mess. It’s time to end the years of Democrat failure. It’s time for a new future. That’s why I’m running for governor, to make this beautiful state that we love so much truly golden again."

Key policy positions

Economy and cost of living

  • Hilton sees the high cost of living in California as rooted in government overreach, calling for a reduction in regulations and taxes to foster economic growth. Hilton believes the state's cost of living has become "completely unaffordable."
  • To fix the high cost of living, Hilton says he would focus on reducing taxes for residents and would push to implement the following:
    • No tax on income for residents earning less than $100K
    • 7.5% flat tax on earnings over $100k
    • No increase in property taxes
  • Hilton says he has a "comprehensive plan" to address rising gasoline costs in the state and "bring California gas prices down to $3 per gallon," which includes eliminating the state's environmental programs.

Housing and homelessness

  • Hilton has criticized current policies surrounding homelessness, calling for increased law enforcement and mental health treatment to address the issue. "We have to provide people the mental health treatment that they need," Hilton said in a February debate.
  • Among the approaches to tackling the homelessness issue Hilton pointed to include, stopping "the fraud in the homeless system" and enforcing the law, adding that "it is illegal to camp on the streets."

Public safety and crime

  • Hilton supports expanding prison capacity to combat crime, arguing that lower-level criminals should serve little to no jail time. Hilton also calls for implementing "rehabilitation programs that actually work."
  • "One of the main drivers of crime and chaos on California’s streets is Gavin Newsom’s prison closure policy," Hilton's campaign website says. "This has resulted in dangerous criminals being released early or transferred to county jails, which in turn has resulted in lower-level criminals not serving time at all."
  • Hilton is a strong supporter of the Second Amendment, saying, "The right to self-defense is about freedom and independence. Responsible gun owners are NOT criminals."

Climate, water and energy

  • Hilton believes California’s climate and energy policies are too costly. He supports rolling back environmental rules and looking at other energy sources, including fossil fuels. 
  • "We have to end the Democrat environment crusade that has led to these astronomical gas prices that are particularly hurting working families," Hilton said at a debate in early February.

Immigration and border issues

  • Hilton strongly supports the Trump administration's immigration policies and has called for the closing of the southern border.
  • In an interview with ABC 7 News, when asked if he would work with the Trump administration on immigration policies, Hilton responded, "Yes. Absolutely. I think we've got to have a cooperative working relationship between the federal government and state and local government to make sure that all our laws are peacefully enforced."

Education

  • Hilton says the issues with the state's education system stem not from a lack of funding, but rather a lack of accountability and bureaucratic mismanagement.
  • His stance on teachers' pay centers on reforming the system by linking compensation to performance, rather than to raises or tenure.
  • "I will not let the teacher unions, or anyone else, stand in the way of reaching a target that is surely the most basic expectation of a school system: that 100% of students meet basic standards," Hilton says on his campaign website.

Election and campaign history

What critics say

Critics of Hilton argue he is too closely aligned with Trump. Additionally, if he were elected governor, critics say his policies would bring a "wrecked economy."

What supporters say

Supporters of Hilton believe he can end the state's one-party Democratic rule and address the high cost of living through his "Califordable" platform.

What’s next in the race

Sources and reporting notes

This story has been updated with new information. 

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