President Donald Trump intervened in the California gubernatorial primary on Monday, endorsing former Fox News contributor Steve Hilton.
Crtiics are saying that Trump doomed his party’s chances by doing so.
In fact, Trump may just have ensured the passage of voter ID in California — while also helping Republicans in downticket races for the US House and other offices.
The California race for governor has been in search of a clear leader for months.
While the Democrats have split their vote among a crowded field of candidates, two Republicans — Hilton and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco — have risen to the top of the polls.
With Trump’s endorsement of Hilton, the race has likely found the leader it has been missing.
He has been a Trump supporter in his various media roles for many years. He also has been a fierce critic of the Democrats’ one-party rule in California, and of Gavin Newsom’s absentee reign as governor.
In recent months, Hilton has picked up the DOGE mantle, and pushed for accountability for the spending fraud that has marred Newsom’s governorship.
He faces an uphill battle against any Democrat. But he may have a slim chance.
Democrats’ far-left policies have driven the state into deep trouble economically, as well as on crime, schooling, roads, poverty, homelessness, fire insurance, and just about every other issue you can imagine.
Current Democrat Governor Newsom is termed out, and has been checked out for over a year as he prepares his race for the presidency.
There are eight Democrats running for governor, which is a problem for their party. Under California’s “jungle” primary system, where the top two finishers go on to the November election, regardless of party, those eight have badly split the Democrat vote.
That has opened the door for the two Republicans running. Many polls have shown them to be first and second in the race, polling in the high teens.
It would be quite a coup if it stayed that way. It also is unlikely.
There is also a possibility that, absent Trump’s endorsement, two Democrats would finish first and second, freezing Republicans out of the general election entirely.
That, in turn, would destroy Republican turnout in a crucial midterm election year with many other key races and ballot initiatives at stake, including voter ID.
President Trump knows that, and has made his choice.
The voter ID initiative is particularly important. Many believe that if it passes in California, voter ID can pass anywhere. That makes 2026 a watershed election in California.
Key to its passage is having at least one Republican in the governor’s race in the general election. That is necessary to turn out the vote of Republicans. If no one is at the top, Republican turnout will lag.
Some Republicans believe that it’s still possible that the two Republicans can finish in the top two positions.
That optimism has to be tempered by the fact that the biggest players in California elections are the public employee unions, who will undoubtedly spend tens of millions to push one or two Democrats in the remaining two months.
That is why President Trump’s endorsement of Steve Hilton is so important and strategic. It is likely to lift Hilton and separate him from the pack of candidates.
It also represents the Republicans’ best chance to have at least one candidate in the top two, and to help voter ID pass in the fall.
Given the national stakes in this fall’s election, including control of the House of Representatives, every race counts.
With strong Republican turnout, and voter ID passing, California could be a national bright spot for election sanity. Imagine that.
Tom Del Beccaro is an author, speaker, and the former chairman of the California Republican Party.
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