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Former Fox News Host Steve Hilton Lays Out Vision for California Governorship

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Steve Hilton speaks with Scott Shafer and Marisa Lagos on Political Breakdown at KQED in San Francisco on Jan. 22, 2026. (Martin do Nascimento/KQED)

Steve Hilton, a former Fox News host who previously served as a political advisor to British Prime Minister David Cameron, sat down with Marisa and Scott to discuss his vision for California if elected governor. Hilton argues the state has been broken by one-party Democratic rule and is attempting to become the first Republican to win statewide office in 20 years.

The conversation covers his upbringing in the U.K. as the son of Hungarian immigrants, his business and political background and how he would approach key gubernatorial challenges, from balancing the budget, reforming the education system, addressing housing and homelessness and improving the state’s current adversarial relationship with the Trump administration.

This interview is part of a series of conversations with the 2026 gubernatorial candidates for California. The primary election is June 2.

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