California Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton is directly appealing to voters across the aisle, including those who oppose former President Donald Trump, in a new advertising campaign. A full-page print advertisement appearing in the San Francisco Chronicle and Los Angeles Times features the headline: “Can you be anti-Trump but still vote for me?”
The ad acknowledges Hilton's Republican affiliation and his past role as a commentator on Fox News. It presents a checklist of issues affecting Californians, such as high utility bills, expensive gas, homelessness, and taxes. The advertisement suggests that if voters have experienced these problems, Hilton represents a viable choice for governor, even with President Trump's endorsement.
“This election is not about who you hate in Washington. It’s about what you love here,” the ad states, positioning Hilton as a pragmatic candidate rather than an ideologue. It encourages voters to consider whether continuing to vote the same way will yield different results, regardless of their feelings about Trump or their party affiliation.
This strategy reflects the challenges a Republican faces in winning statewide office in California, a predominantly Democratic state. Recent polling indicates Hilton trails his Democratic opponent, Xavier Becerra, by a significant margin. Political analysts suggest that Hilton needs to attract Democratic support to be competitive, and his campaign is focusing on voter dissatisfaction with the status quo.
A spokesperson for Hilton's campaign stated that the ads do not represent a distancing from President Trump, whom Hilton remains proud to have endorse him. Internal polling suggests that a majority of persuadable voters dissatisfied with California's direction did not vote for Trump, and the campaign is targeting this demographic. The campaign aims to build a broad coalition of voters seeking change after 16 years of one-party rule in the state.