GOP Candidate Blasts Rival for Sucking Up To BLM!

Steve Hilton dominates California’s 2026 governor race fundraising, but the rumored blast against a rival’s 2020 BLM kneel never happened—leaving conservatives wondering if real attacks await.

Story Snapshot

Hilton raised $4.1M in late 2025, leading non-Democrat cash with $2M on hand.
No evidence supports claims of Hilton criticizing rival Chad Bianco over BLM gestures.
Top-two primary on June 2, 2026, favors outsiders amid Democratic field chaos.
Hilton pushes housing fixes and ends one-party rule, polling around 15% with broad appeal.
Steyer spends heavily but lags; race tests GOP revival in blue California.

California’s 2026 Gubernatorial Race Setup

California holds its 2026 gubernatorial primary on June 2 under a top-two system. Top vote-getters advance regardless of party. This setup follows Gavin Newsom’s two terms. Republicans last won statewide in 2006. Hilton launched mid-2025 as a Fox News alum and former David Cameron advisor. He targets housing shortages, high taxes, and poor business climate. Democratic one-party rule draws his sharpest fire. The fragmented Democratic field creates openings for GOP candidates like Hilton and Riverside Sheriff Chad Bianco.

Hilton’s Fundraising Momentum and Strategy

Steve Hilton raised $4.1 million in the second half of 2025, holding $2 million cash by January 2026. This tops non-Democrat totals. Bianco raised about $2 million, polling near Hilton at 15%. Hilton announced a “Golden Ticket” slate, including Michael Gates for attorney general. On January 23, 2026, at the Commonwealth Club, Hilton outlined a nonpartisan pitch. He courts 30-somethings and ex-Democrats frustrated with costs. Polls place him in the top two or three among six major candidates.

Tom Steyer poured $28 million of his own money, spending $26 million by early 2026. Yet he polls at 8%. Katie Porter rallies Democrats against GOP threats. Matt Mahan entered late January, chasing Silicon Valley donors. Democratic strategists like Garry South predict Steyer’s spending dominance. Andrew Acosta calls the race unprecedented due to donor hesitation. Hilton touts majority support for change on affordability.

Absence of BLM Controversy in Campaign

No sources confirm Hilton blasting Chad Bianco or any rival for 2020 BLM actions like kneeling. 2020 protests fueled national policing debates. Conservatives criticized officials who knelt. Bianco, as sheriff, faced no prominent reports tying him to such gestures in Hilton critiques. Hilton’s rhetoric sticks to policy: housing, taxes, business revival. This focus aligns with common sense—voters prioritize wallets over past protests. Chasing unverified drama distracts from real issues like California’s decline.

Hilton positions as a change agent against Democratic supermajority incompetence. His UK background and Trump-era Fox ties intrigue analysts. KQED notes potential for cooperative federal relations. Race flux favors big spenders, but polls show widespread “wrong direction” sentiment. Working families and businesses stand to gain from GOP policy shifts.

CA Gubernatorial Candidate, Steve Hilton, Blasts His Republican Rival for Bending a Knee to BLM in 2020
https://t.co/YZAvENVpX8

— Townhall Updates (@TownhallUpdates) February 6, 2026

Potential Impacts on California and Beyond

Short-term, Hilton and Bianco vie for top-two spots. GOP split risks it, but Democratic disarray helps. Campaigns may exceed $40 million, echoing Newsom’s inflation-adjusted 2018 spend. Long-term, a Republican win ends 20 years of one-party control. Housing reforms and tax cuts could ease burdens on 39 million residents. Gridlock looms without it. The race tests blue-state conservatism, eyeing national midterms.