Who really fears Kamala Harris?
Not Steve Hilton. The founder of Technology will be running for the California GOP ticket next year.
Hilton, a 55-year-old conservative populist from Britain, announced his gubernatorial candidacy last week. In an exclusive interview, he shared his thoughts on what would happen if Harris joined the race.
“It’s always about her—everything revolves around her,” he remarked regarding the former presidential contender. “She seems fascinated by becoming America’s first female Black governor, yet she doesn’t offer any substantial improvements for people’s lives or the hope they hold for California’s future.”
Meanwhile, there’s curiosity surrounding Harris’ potential run. Current polls show her leading a field of over a dozen Democrats, although there’s a notable split among voters—about 50% support her running for governor, according to an Emerson University survey.
As of now, Harris hasn’t made a decision about her candidacy. She’s previously held the position of California’s attorney general, and reports indicate she’ll make a call by the end of summer.
Hilton didn’t shy away from expressing his views on his former VP, saying, “Democrats are not the necessary change for California.” He cited over a decade of single-party governance and various issues, such as high taxes and a tough business climate.
“It’s striking how little Harris has seemingly learned from her past failures,” he continued. “Her current approach to possibly running for governor feels just as hollow as her previous campaign.”
He believes Democrats are in for a wake-up call.
“The entrenched Democrat establishment in California has grown complacent, relying on unions and special interests,” he said, suggesting a need for a significant shift. “Californians are ready for change—they can’t keep going like this.”
Interestingly, the data seems to back Hilton’s perspective. A Sacramento Bee survey conducted in March revealed that nearly half of Californians are considering voting Republican in 2026, with Democrat registrations slightly trailing Republicans.
Hilton, originally from the UK and the son of Hungarian refugees, moved to the U.S. in 2012 and became a citizen in 2021, meeting the eligibility requirements to run for governor.
Before diving into politics here, he co-founded a tech startup in Silicon Valley that supported political fundraising. He left the company in 2018 due to conflicts stemming from his pro-Trump stance.
Hilton hosted the show “Next Revolution” on Fox News from 2017 to 2023 and was still under contract there until he announced his run for governor.
He is the second Republican to declare his candidacy, following Sheriff Bianco.
The Democratic field is growing as well, with former LA Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Lt. Col. Eleni Kounalakis, and others entering the race to succeed Gavin Newsom in 2026.
Hilton criticized the current governor, saying Newsom isn’t embracing real leadership. “It’s like he’s more of a commentator than someone in action,” he remarked.
California’s open primary will take place on June 2, 2026.
