Steve Hilton's New Ad Features AI-Generated Lesbian Encounter

California Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton has released a new advertisement titled "Just Try It, California," which features two AI-generated young women in a suggestive scenario. The ad, launched Thursday, is the first in a six-figure television and digital campaign aimed at Gen Z and millennial voters. This comes one day after Hilton's debate with his Democratic rival, Xavier Becerra.

The advertisement depicts two young women, one wearing a shirt that says "RESIST," in a dimly lit room with a Pride flag visible. Their conversation implies an impending sexual encounter, with one expressing hesitation and the other encouraging her to "just try it." The ad concludes with the women filling in "Steve Hilton" on a ballot, and the tagline "Just try it."

Hilton's campaign stated the ad is designed to encourage voters to try something new in California, referencing the state's predominantly Democratic electorate and the candidate's need to appeal to independents and Democrats. The candidate has previously run ads that encouraged voters who dislike President Donald Trump, whom Hilton has endorsed, to still consider voting for him.

In a statement, Hilton said, "People do not need permission from a party to want a state they can afford. Gas, utilities, housing, schools. Sixteen years of the same government, and it keeps getting harder to live here. Just try something that actually brings costs down." He added, "You do not have to become a Republican to want a different result. You do not have to like me. You just have to look at the last 16 years and ask if you are willing to try it."

The ad has drawn mixed reactions. Some, like former Los Angeles mayoral candidate Spencer Pratt, have praised it as "brilliant." Others have expressed caution, with some Reddit users suggesting the ad might alienate Republicans due to the imagery and could be perceived as pro-LGBT. One user commented, "This ad isn’t poorly executed, but no joke this might turn off more Republicans from voting for Hilton because of that flag and it appearing as a pro-LGBT Hilton ad. It persuades moderates or left leaning people to vote for him."

Hilton is currently trailing Becerra by approximately 18 percentage points in the latest polls, making attention-grabbing tactics a key part of his strategy to engage voters.