Overview
- Trump, in a late Sunday Truth Social post, gave Hilton his “complete and total endorsement” and attacked Gavin Newsom over crime, taxes and people leaving the state.
- California’s top-two primary sends the two highest vote-getters to November regardless of party, so a unified Republican vote could shape which Democrat makes the runoff.
- A UC Berkeley IGS poll in March showed Hilton at about 17% and fellow Republican Chad Bianco at about 16%, with Democrats such as Eric Swalwell, Katie Porter and Tom Steyer grouped a few points back.
- Political analysts say the move likely boosts Hilton and hurts Bianco, which reduces the chances of a Republican-versus-Republican November and could let Democratic groups redirect spending.
- Hilton is a British-born former Fox News host and ex–UK prime minister adviser who became a U.S. citizen in 2021, and his campaign thanked Trump and vowed to “take California back.”