Steve Hilton runs for California governor with Trump endorsement
Former Downing Street adviser Steve Hilton announced his candidacy for California governor, receiving an endorsement from Donald Trump.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
Steve Hilton, a former Downing Street adviser who helped rebrand the Conservative Party under David Cameron, has announced his candidacy for governor of California. He has received an endorsement from Donald Trump, a move that marks a sharp shift from his earlier political identity in Britain.
Hilton, who moved to California in 2012, said the state has been run by one party for too long and described the results as a disaster. He pointed to the highest poverty rate in the US, tied with Louisiana, the highest unemployment rate, and the highest cost of living. He argued that millions of people are leaving California because it is so hard to live or run a business there.
In an interview, Hilton said he is his own person and running his own campaign, but he was proud to get Trump's endorsement. He said it would be useful for a California governor to have a good working relationship with the federal administration, regardless of party. When asked about Trump's foreign policy, Hilton said the main impact on California is on gas prices, which he blamed on Democrat policies rather than the Iran war.
Hilton's background includes a central role in Cameron's rebranding of the Conservatives, including the 'Big Society' manifesto and the famous husky visit to the North Pole. He said his experience trying to reduce regulation inside government taught him how hard it is to take on an entrenched bureaucracy. He acknowledged that the burden of regulation in the UK remains high, a problem he sees mirrored in California.
The race for California governor is still in its early stages, with the general election scheduled for November. Hilton faces a long campaign ahead in a state that has not elected a Republican governor since Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2006.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | BBC Two |
|---|---|
| Steve Hilton is a former Downing Street adviser who helped rebrand the Conservative Party under David Cameron. | |
| Steve Hilton received an endorsement from Donald Trump for his California governor campaign. | |
| Steve Hilton said California has the highest poverty rate, highest unemployment rate, and highest cost of living of any US state. |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
BBC TWO focused heavily on Steve Hilton's British political background, tracing his evolution from David Cameron's rebranding guru to a Trump-endorsed MAGA candidate. The interview explored his personal history, his parents' Hungarian origins, and his views on regulation. The tone was analytical and slightly sceptical, pressing Hilton on whether his UK record was a failure and whether tying himself to Trump was wise.
- “I love California, been here since 2012. All that time this state has been run by one party, actually longer even than that, and the results are a disaster frankly.”
- “I'm the candidate for change in this election and so to me I'm not at all surprised that we're seeing the support that we've got so far.”
- “Look, I'm my own person and running my own campaign, very much focused on what's going on in California.”
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.