Hilton Brushes Off Trump's Low Ratings in CA Governor Race

0:00It's April 20th. You're listening to U.S. News Today, AI-powered national coverage. Republican candidate Steve Hilton is brushing off President Trump's low approval ratings in California as a non-factor in the state's tight governors. Race. He told the Hill that local headaches like poverty, high unemployment, and sky-high living costs are what voters really care about, pinning them on. 16 years of one-party Democrat rule. Hilton, a former adviser to British Prime Minister David Cameron and a Trump Indoor C, promises a fresh direction if elected. Polling backs up the tough road for Republicans here, with just 29% of California adults approving of Trump, according to a survey last, may 82% of his own party, but only 6% of Democrats. Meanwhile, the race has heated up after former Congressman Eric Swalwell dropped out amid sexual misconduct claims from several women. Others haven't sent a Republican to Sacramento as governor since Arnold Schwarzenegger bounced in 2011 and the fields packed with.

1:02Heavy hitters testing that trend ahead of Wednesday's big primary debate on KTLA in Los Angeles. Under California's top two system, the two top vote-gitters advance no matter their party. A fresh Emerson college poll shows Hilton out front at 17% among likely voters, neck-and-neck with Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco. And businessman Tom Steyer at 14% each, while Katie Porter and Xavier Basera trail at 10% a piece. Hilton warns Republicans need to rally fast, or risk getting boxed out by deep-pocketed Democrat unions and allies, predicting either Steyer or Porter. We'll snag the top-dem spot and force a unified GOP push into the June 2nd primary.