LOS ANGELES (CNS) – California’s gubernatorial candidates were reacting Monday to President Donald Trump’s endorsement of Republican podcaster and former television host Steve Hilton in the state’s gubernatorial race.
“I have known and respected Steve Hilton, who is running for governor of California, for many years,” Trump wrote late Sunday night.
“He is a truly fine man, one who has watched as this once great state has gone to hell. Gavin Newscum and the Democrats have done an absolutely horrendous job. People are fleeing, crime is increasing, and taxes are the highest of any state in the country, maybe the world. Steve can turn it around, before it is too late, and, as president, I will help him to do so! With federal help, and a great governor, like Steve Hilton, California can be better than ever before! Steve Hilton has my COMPLETE & TOTAL ENDORSEMENT. He will be a GREAT governor and, importantly, WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!!!”
Hilton’s campaign responded about an hour later.
“President Donald J. Trump just gave Steve Hilton his complete and total endorsement for governor of California,” the Hilton campaign posted on X. ” … With President Trump’s full backing and federal support, we are going to take California back and make it better than ever before!
“Thank you, Mr. President! This is the moment California has been waiting for!”
Hilton expanded on those thoughts in a statement provided to City News Service on Monday.
“I am honored to receive the endorsement of President Donald J. Trump,” he said. “California should be the best place in the world to follow your dreams, raise a family, start and grow a business. We have everything we need to lead our country again. But after 16 years of one-party rule, we have the highest poverty rate, highest unemployment rate, and highest cost of living in America.
“I’m running to make our state Califordable: $3 gas, cut your electric bills in half, your first $100,000 tax free, a home you can afford to buy. We’ll do that by putting common sense ahead of ideology, stopping fraud, waste, and abuse in our government, and cleaning up the corruption in Sacramento.
“I’m grateful for the president’s support. Together, we can turn things around and make California truly Golden Again.”
The 56-year-old Hilton is one of two Republicans among the 10 major candidates in the race, along with Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco.
The Democratic candidates are former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary and California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, former U.S. congresswoman Katie Porter, billionaire financier Tom Steyer, Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Dublin, sate Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, former L.A. Mayor and Assembly Speaker Antonio Villaraigosa, and former state Controller Betty Yee.
“By endorsing Steve Hilton, Trump is telling Californians exactly what a Hilton governorship would look like: higher costs, a wrecked economy, and a Sacramento that does Trump’s bidding, opens the door to ICE, and attacks our communities instead of defending them,” Mahan said. “I’m running to do the opposite, to lower costs, invest in California’s future, and stand up to Washington when it comes after us. The choice could not be more clear.”
Steyer said: “California demands a leader who stands up to Trump and lowers costs, not one pushing the same failed MAGA agenda.”
Porter issued the following statement on social media:
“If there was any doubt what this race is about, now it’s certain: It’s California values against MAGA. I’m running because voters are tired of the same old political games when the stakes are so much higher. They deserve a governor they can trust to fight for regular people, not just push policy agendas that only benefit corporate interests and the richest of the rich. I’m the only leading Democrat in this race who’s never taken corporate PAC money or profited off corporate greed, and I’ve taken on Trump and his cronies and won.”
Hilton was born in the United Kingdom and was an adviser to Prime Minister David Cameron before moving to California’s Silicon Valley in 2012, becoming a U.S. citizen and teaching at Stanford University. Hilton hosted “The Next Revolution” on Fox News and has hosted a number of politically focused podcasts.
He is also the founder of Golden Together, a policy organization aimed at finding solutions for homelessness and other issues.
The top two vote getters in the June 2 primary, regardless of party affiliation, will square off in November’s election to success Gov. Gavin Newsom, who is barred from running again due to term limits.
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