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By Alia Shoaib
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Steve Hilton, the candidate backed by President Donald Trump in California’s gubernatorial race, has failed to secure the endorsement of the Republican Party of California.
Hilton is one of two leading Republican candidates, along with Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco.
Party delegates voted at their state convention on Sunday not to endorse any candidate after Hilton and his main Republican rival fell short of the votes needed to win the party’s backing.
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Steve Hilton's spokesperson Hector Barajas told Newsweek in an emailed statement: “Chad Bianco left with nothing, and we have Trump’s endorsement."
“Bianco’s entire relevancy in this campaign was on getting this endorsement over the last several months; his entire operation was built around it, and he had a huge advantage that it was in Southern California and still couldn’t even get 50 percent of the vote, much less than 60 needed to get the endorsement.”
Why It Matters
The November election will determine the successor to Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom, who is term-limited and cannot run again in 2026.
Under California’s nonpartisan primary system, the top two vote-getters in the primary will advance to the November general election regardless of party affiliation. This makes it critical for Republicans to consolidate support behind a candidate if they hope to secure a place on the general election ballot.
The state Republican Party’s failure to unite behind a single candidate could be a setback for Hilton and highlights divisions within the GOP. It also raises questions about the political strength of Trump’s endorsement power ahead of the 2026 elections.
What To Know
Hilton, a former Fox News host and proponent of what he calls "positive populism," won Trump’s endorsement last week.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump praised Hilton as a “truly fine man” and signaled that the administration would work closely with Hilton to make California “better than ever before.”
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The California Republican Party wrote on X that neither candidate reached the required 60 percent threshold to win the endorsement, with Hilton getting 442 delegate votes and Bianco getting 496. Seventy-five delegates opted not to endorse either.
The Republican contest is unfolding in a crowded field of more than 50 candidates running in the race. The ballot includes several well-known Democrats, but no dominant front-runner.
While it is unlikely for a Republican to win the governorship in the historically blue state of California, the crowded Democratic field has split voters and meant that the two Republicans remain competitive in early polling.
Polls show Hilton generally narrowly leading Bianco.
The Democratic race was rocked by Rep. Eric Swalwell suspending his campaign after facing a wave of sexual misconduct and assault allegations, which he has denied.
What People Are Saying
Steve Hilton said in a video posted on X on Sunday: “So we just had the endorsements at the California Republican convention for the statewide candidates. No endorsements for governor—but the endorsement of course that really matters happened last Sunday, with the endorsement of President Trump for me in the governor’s race. What we really need to do now is to get behind the leading candidate for governor, and that is me.”
Chad Bianco wrote on X on Sunday: “I'm honored to be the top vote-getter in the CAGOP convention. I can't thank the delegates enough for their tireless sacrifice to help save our state. 2026 is the year we save California!”
What Happens Next
The primary is scheduled to be held on June 2.
Update 4/13/26, 11:08 a.m. ET: This article has been updated with comment from Steve Hilton’s spokesperson Hector Barajas.
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