Steve Hilton: Making California Golden Again

0:00It's April 22nd. California News Today starts now, AI powered and ready. I'm Cory with the story. Steve Hilton, the former Fox News host and British political strategist, is shaking up the California governor's race. Once a huge fan of the Golden State back in 2010, when he pushed UK conservatives to copy Silicon Valley's innovation vibe, he's now. Calling California America's worst run state. Calling as a Republican with a slogan, making California golden again. The 56 year old is leading polls in a wide open field ahead of the June. Primary. Hilton moved full time to the Bay Area around 2012, taught at Stanford, and launched his show The Next Revolution, where he backed. Trump early and slammed COVID lockdowns. He became a U.S. citizen in 2021. Ditched Fox last year to start a policy group, then dropped his book, Califail Your Ripping Democrats. For bloating government and ignoring basics like poverty and opportunity stats, show California

1:02dead last there. Democrats are scrambling after Eric Swalwell dropped out amid assault accusations, but they still outnumber Republicans two to one, and voters care. Most about sky-high living costs. Hilton's Trump endorsement this month locks in GOP support, though his past as a green-leaning reformer under David Cameron has rivals like Sheriff. Chad Bianco calling him a flip-flopper. On the trail, he's pushing tax cuts, cheaper housing by easing regs, $3 a gallon gas via more local oil, plus tougher immigration, enforcement and a COVID accountability probe that could target leaders like Gavin Newsom. Experts say his foxtile populism might fire up the base, but struggles in deep blue California unless he tones down the partisan heat. Hilton argues his rebel spirit fits the state's original vibe, and even UK watchers see his shift as spotting real failures like homelessness and energy woes up close. With Trump back in the White House, this outsider's bid could redefine the race or crash

2:06hard. Either way, California's watching tight.