Steve Hilton’s Fundraising Success in California Gubernatorial Race
Steve Hilton, a British-American political commentator and a candidate for California’s Republican gubernatorial nomination, has raised over $4.1 million in the last six months, surpassing other candidates, including those from the Democratic party.
Hilton stated on X, “We are leading this campaign and building a grassroots political revolution. We will continue to fight to oust the failed and corrupt Democratic Party machine and save California!”
The former Fox News host has positioned himself as an outsider, challenging the long-standing Democratic dominance in California. His campaign emphasizes combating corruption and addressing the consequences of what he calls 16 years of “one-party rule.”
Since launching his candidacy, Hilton has amassed a total of $5.7 million, trailing only self-funded billionaire Tom Steyer, who has contributed $20 million of his own funds. In contrast, Hilton has only loaned his campaign $100,000.
Hilton expressed to a news outlet, “This is a really great result and shows how fed up people are with Newsom and 16 years of single-party Democratic control. We built this from scratch in record time.”
The success of his fundraising efforts largely stems from grassroots support, including over 30,000 individual donors. A significant portion of these contributions—mainly small donations of $100 or less—come from 56 of California’s 58 counties. This broad-based backing indicates a notable political momentum, especially for a first-time candidate with international roots.
The closest competitor in fundraising is Democrat Katie Porter, who has raised around $3 million.
In California’s “jungle primary” system, all candidates are listed on the same ballot irrespective of their party affiliation, with only the top two advancing to the general elections. Hilton aims to consolidate Republican support through his anti-corruption platform while also appealing to independent voters. This strategy is essential for securing a spot in the November runoff against well-funded Democrats like Steyer and Porter.
The general election is scheduled for Tuesday, November 3, 2026.
Prior to engaging in U.S. politics, Hilton worked as a senior adviser to former British Prime Minister David Cameron and authored a book critical of California’s governance.
