California Republicans Defy Trump, Decline to Endorse in Governor’s Race

The California Republican Party declined to endorse any candidate in the 2026 gubernatorial race at its state convention on Sunday, despite President Donald Trump’s personal endorsement of former Fox News host Steve Hilton. The decision highlights a notable rift between the national party apparatus and California’s GOP establishment, as neither Hilton nor his primary rival, State Senator Brian Dahle, was able to secure the required 60% supermajority threshold for a formal party endorsement.

The convention vote represents one of the most visible instances of state-level Republican delegates declining to fall in line behind a Trump-backed candidate. Steve Hilton, who became a U.S. citizen and hosted a program on Fox News from 2017 to 2023, secured Trump’s endorsement earlier this year. Hilton has positioned himself as a populist outsider who can translate Trump’s national appeal into a viable California campaign. However, many California Republican delegates appear skeptical of his candidacy, questioning whether a media personality with limited California political experience and a background rooted in British politics can effectively compete in the nation’s most populous — and overwhelmingly Democratic — state. Hilton previously served as a senior adviser to former UK Prime Minister David Cameron before relocating to the San Francisco Bay Area.

State Senator Brian Dahle, who represents a sprawling rural district in northeastern California, offers a contrasting profile as a longtime agricultural businessman and state legislator. Dahle ran against Gavin Newsom in the 2022 general election and lost by approximately 17 percentage points — a margin that, while lopsided, was actually narrower than some pre-election polls had predicted. His supporters within the party argue that Dahle has the grassroots connections and governing experience that Hilton lacks. The split between the two candidates underscores a broader tension within the Republican Party nationally: whether Trump’s personal endorsements should serve as the definitive factor in primary contests, or whether local considerations and electability arguments should carry greater weight.

The stakes of this internal division are amplified by California’s unique top-two primary system, adopted by voters in 2010. Under this system, all candidates regardless of party appear on a single primary ballot, and the top two vote-getters advance to the general election. In a state where Democrats hold a commanding voter registration advantage — approximately 46% Democrat to roughly 24% Republican as of early 2025 — a fractured GOP primary could result in two Democrats advancing to the general election, shutting Republicans out entirely. This scenario played out in the 2018 U.S. Senate race, when two Democrats, Dianne Feinstein and Kevin de León, advanced past the primary. For Republicans hoping to compete in the 2026 gubernatorial contest, consolidating behind a single candidate is not merely a matter of party unity but of basic electoral survival.

The Democratic field for governor is also taking shape, with several prominent candidates expected to compete, including former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis, and state Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, among others. The crowded Democratic primary could theoretically benefit a unified Republican candidate who consolidates the party’s base early. However, the convention’s failure to endorse suggests that unification remains elusive. Going forward, the key question is whether Trump will intensify his efforts on behalf of Hilton — potentially deploying rallies, fundraising support, or social media pressure — or whether the California GOP’s independent streak signals a limit to presidential influence in deep-blue state politics. The primary is scheduled for June 2026, leaving months for the intraparty contest to play out.