Former Fox News Host Steve Hilton Reportedly Mulling Over a Run For CA Governor

According to new reports released late on Monday, former Director of Strategy for then-British Prime Minister David Cameron and former Fox News host Steve Hilton is now seriously considering a run for Governor of California in 2026, with GOP leaders confirming that he is organizing a possible run.

Born in London to parents who escaped the Hungarian Revolution of 1956, Hilton graduated from Oxford University in the early 90’s and immediately went into politics. He worked  for the right-leaning Conservative Party in the UK at their central office throughout the 90’s. In the 2000’s, following major Conservative defeats, Hilton added in some environmental and progressive policies into the Party. This earned him becoming the Director of strategy for PM David Cameron from 2010 to 2012.

Following his stint as his Director, Hilton began focusing on politics in the U.S. as well, helping create the political fund raising and data tracking site Crowdpac, although he resigned in 2018 following the company halting all fundraising for GOP candidates. In addition to joining think tanks, Hilton also moved into the world of journalism, where he began writing for Fox News in 2016, favoring Donald Trump in the presidential election. Impressed, Fox gave him his own show the next year, The Next Revolution, which he hosted until June 2023, a proponent of “positive populism.” Since then, Hilton has increased his focus on California public policy, founding Golden Together, a bipartisan think tank, and has contemplated a run for Governor.

This led to reports on Monday and Tuesday that Hilton is now seriously looking into a 2026 run for California Governor. There are no questions to his ability to run for the office, as Hilton lives in the state and has been a citizen of the United States since 2021. While Hilton has not publicly expressed a desire to run, GOP leaders in the state confirmed that Hilton is currently looking into it.

“He is thinking very seriously about running for governor and he is doing it in a very organized way,” said former California Republican Party Chairman and former state Senator Jim Brulte on Monday. “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.”

Should Hilton enter the race, he would be the first major Republican to run, with only Vice President of Zacky Farms, Leo Zacky, the only current declared Republican. Only a few others have been seen as potential nominees, chief among them State Senator and 2022 Gubernatorial candidate Brian Dahle (R-Bieber). Meanwhile, on the Democratic side, it is currently packed with candidates. Lt. Governor Eleni Kounalakis, State Superintendent Tony Thurmond, Senator Toni Atkins (D-San Diego), Former State Controller Betty Yee, and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa are current candidates for the open 2026 race, with Attorney General Rob Bonta, Congresswoman Katie Porter (D-CA), 2022 L.A. Mayoral candidate Rick Caruso, U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, Senator Laphonza Butler (D-CA) and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass all having either expressed interest in running or were known to want to run recently.

A possible run for Steve Hilton

Hilton entering the race would not only likely break the primary with Hilton likely getting one of the top two spots, but his background of being active in both UK and US politics and his varying ranges of conservative views could bring him more support than expected.

“Let’s not forget that California has had a rich history of people born outside of the U.S. finding the American dream in California, then running for Governor or another big office and being elected in,” said gubernatorial pollster Guillermo Williams to the Globe on Tuesday. “The most recent was Arnold Schwarzenegger a little over a decade ago. So there is precedent for this.

“Strategically, the GOP needed a big name to go on the ticket. One not only to excite the GOP base in the state, but one that would also entice moderates and the left. It’s easy for a lone big name Republican to go into a Democrat heavy primary to get first or second place and wreck a bunch of Democratic political careers in the process. Look at what Steve Garvey did to Porter and Lee in March. But it’s much harder to then win in November against the Democrat.

“It’s good that Hilton is looking at this strategically. He’s a Silicon Valley sort of guy, but as a Republican, he would have a built-in base in Central California, Inland Empire, North State, and Orange County. From there, branching into Bakersfield, L.A. suburbs, San Diego, Sacramento. He even has some Silicon Valley support, so there is a rare in for the GOP there.

“But it is good that the GOP are getting some big candidates finally. And Hilton is definitely unique as a candidate.”

As of Tuesday, Hilton has yet to speak about his possible run in 2026.