Steve Hilton’s Personal Campaign Video for California Governor

Steve Hilton, a Republican who recently emerged victorious in California’s gubernatorial primary, is connecting with voters through a deeply personal campaign video. He recounts his life story, starting as the son of refugees escaping communism to becoming a candidate for one of the state’s highest positions.

Hilton advanced to the general election in November, where he will face off against Democrat Xavier Becerra. His journey included navigating a chaotic primary season, featuring 61 candidates, which took over a week to finalize as mail-in ballots were tallied.

As reported by the Associated Press, Becerra led with 27.9% of the vote, while Hilton secured 25%, placing second in California’s top-two primary system.

In his campaign video, Hilton emphasizes that the election represents a pivotal moment for California’s future.

“It all started with freedom,” he asserts.

He elaborates on his background, explaining, “My parents fled from communism in Hungary, leading to my birth in England and a working-class upbringing.” His mother worked in a shoe store, and his father was in construction, like many immigrant families striving for a better life.

Hilton shares how he built a business, engaged in British politics, and played a role in electing a prime minister. In 2012, he made the move to California with his wife and two sons, calling it “the ultimate expression of America, the home of freedom.”

The video highlights his journey through teaching at Stanford, starting a business, writing a book, and becoming a U.S. citizen before sharply criticizing the state he aims to lead.

However, he reminds viewers of the challenges faced, mentioning, “But it’s also a reminder of the madness: masks, lockdowns, school closures. What happened here? Chaos, crime, costs, collapse.”

Hilton frames himself as an outsider capable of shaking up the established political scene in Sacramento.

“This campaign isn’t merely about Democrat versus Republican. It’s about common sense, change, and practical solutions,” he states. “I’m not a politician—I’m an outsider seeking to reform a broken system by cutting costs, supporting businesses, and fixing our schools.”

His path to the general election was a bit rocky. Despite a strong start on election night, Hilton saw his lead decrease as more votes were counted. However, he managed to maintain his second-place position, overcoming notable contenders, including billionaire Tom Steyer, U.S. Rep. Katie Porter, and several others.