Hilton Edges Out Democrat Katie Porter by 1% in Early Polling as 2026 Race Begins to Take Shape
Conservative political commentator and former Fox News host Steve Hilton is now leading the race for California governor, according to newly released early polling. Hilton holds a narrow 1-point lead over Democrat Katie Porter, capturing 19% of support compared to Porter’s 18%.
The early-stage poll also shows former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco each pulling in 6% of likely voters. While the election is still over a year away, the poll is the first major indicator of voter sentiment in what is shaping up to be one of the most consequential and nationally watched gubernatorial races in years.
Read More
Hilton, a British-American political strategist known for his work with former UK Prime Minister David Cameron and his tenure as host of The Next Revolution on Fox News, has framed his campaign around restoring common-sense governance, tackling state mismanagement, and reviving economic opportunity.
“California is broken—and we’re going to fix it,” Hilton said in a recent campaign video. “The people of this state are tired of being ignored by the political elite. I’m running to return power to the people and restore sanity to Sacramento.”
Katie Porter, the former congresswoman from Orange County and a progressive favorite, remains a formidable opponent with strong grassroots and institutional support.
Still, the race is in its early stages, with more candidates expected to enter. Just last month, Pasadena pastor Che Ahn announced his intention to enter the race in September, citing a divine calling and his past legal battles against the Newsom administration during COVID.
With Hilton’s early polling lead and an interesting field emerging, California voters can expect a heated and consequential campaign ahead.
Thrive News will continue providing updates as this story develops.
