Former Fox News host Steve Hilton is reportedly considering a run for California governor in 2026.

A spokesperson confirmed to KCRA 3 that Hilton is traveling across the state and increasing his public appearances.

The British and American political commentator served as a policy adviser to former UK Prime Minister David Cameron.

From POLITICO:

While Hilton and his team did not comment when approached for this story, several prominent political figures in the state conveyed that the Silicon Valley entrepreneur, who has been increasing his public appearances and focus on California public policy, is already deep in discussions about a possible run as a Republican.

“He is thinking very seriously about running for governor and he is doing it in a very organized way,” said Jim Brulte, the former California Republican Party chair and GOP leader of the state Senate. “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.”

Hilton’s candidacy would amount to a major test of voters’ appetites to challenge Democratic dogma and conventional wisdom in one of the nation’s biggest, bluest states. It also could help resolve whether deteriorating conditions on the ground — pockets of high crime, homelessness and soaring cost of living — will precipitate a fulsome conversation about alternative leadership that hasn’t happened in decades.

Word of Hilton’s interest has already piqued the curiosity of leaders in Silicon Valley, including figures pining for a political disruptor. In an interview, Chamath Palihapitiya, the billionaire tech venture capitalist who has increasingly waded into national and state politics, said Hilton’s emergence could jumpstart conversations around a range of issues plaguing California.

“At the Convention Nancy Pelosi and Gavin Newsom smugly patted themselves on the back over what a great job they’ve done – but the Kamala Harris policy agenda has been a disaster in California, giving us the highest unemployment, highest poverty rate, and worst housing crisis. Republicans need to make sure the whole country knows,” Hilton commented.

WATCH:

KCRA 3 reports:

Because California limits the maximum amount of terms you can serve as governor to two, there will be a new person in office after the results of the 2026 midterm elections as Gov. Gavin Newsom finishes his second term.

Hilton joined Fox News Media in December 2016. He hosted “The Next Revolution” through May 2023 and still regularly offers political and tech industry commentary across FOX platforms.

He is also the co-founder of Crowdpac, an independent and non-partisan Silicon Valley political and data start-up.

Hilton served as director of strategy for Cameron from 2010 to 2012.

Others running for governor on the Democratic side include State Senate Pro Tempore Toni Atkins, Lt. Governor Eleni Kounalakis, former State Controller Betty Yee and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta and California’s head of public instructions Tony Thurmond are also considering runs.

 

Join The Conversation. Leave a Comment.


We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.