Fox News Star Plotting a Run for Office in a Deep Blue State

California may have its next political firebrand on deck.

Former Fox News host, political advisor, and longtime conservative commentator Steve Hilton is making waves with his potential bid for governor of California. In a no-holds-barred appearance on The Daily Beast Podcast, Hilton tore into the state’s leadership and confirmed he’s “strongly considering” stepping into the political arena to replace Democrat Gavin Newsom, who is term-limited.

“I won’t run just to make a point,” Hilton said. “If I do this, it’s because I want to win—and fix what the radical Left has destroyed.”

Hilton’s comments came as he promoted his upcoming book Califailure, a blistering critique of California’s collapse under progressive rule. The book targets what Hilton describes as the “unholy alliance of big government and radical ideology,” blaming far-left policies for out-of-control crime, rampant homelessness, failing schools, and crushing taxes.

“People are fleeing California for a reason,” Hilton said. “The American dream used to be alive here. Now it’s a dystopian nightmare created by the elites.”

The British-born strategist isn’t just talking about problems—he’s offering solutions. Hilton hinted that Califailure lays out a roadmap to restore the state, and he’s eager to implement those ideas from inside the Governor’s Mansion.

Though he hasn’t officially declared, Hilton told hosts Samantha Bee and Joanna Coles that any announcement would come “well before Kamala Harris decides what she’s doing.” The Vice President has been rumored to be considering a run herself, with decisions expected by the end of the summer.

When pressed about a potential campaign slogan, Hilton didn’t hesitate: “Restore the California Dream.” It’s the same mantra used by his nonprofit organization, Golden Together, which advocates for practical, data-driven reforms across the state. The group stays out of partisan fights—but Hilton himself is anything but neutral.

A former senior advisor to British Prime Minister David Cameron, Hilton has spent the past decade warning about the dangers of globalism, unchecked bureaucracy, and media groupthink. His populist message—centered on freedom, family, and common sense—has earned him a loyal following, especially among conservatives frustrated by what they see as California’s steady decline.

Whether he makes it official or not, Hilton’s message is clear: California is broken. And someone needs to fix it.

“You can’t just sit back and watch your home be destroyed,” he said. “You either walk away, or you fight. I choose to fight.”