Republican media strategist Steve Hilton begins his general election campaign for California governor with messaging aimed at voters who may oppose President Donald Trump. According to reports, Hilton tells Californians that they can express dislike for Trump but should still consider voting for him in the gubernatorial race.
The campaign framing is presented as an attempt to reach beyond the party’s usual base in a state where left-leaning voters are described as dominating. Hilton’s opening remarks are characterized as a “gambit” designed to broaden support by separating personal or ideological objections to Trump from the decision to back Hilton for governor.
Across the sources, the central focus is Hilton’s strategy and the specific claim that voters can “hate Trump” while still casting a ballot for him. The coverage does not provide additional policy details or responses from opponents within the provided excerpts, and it centers primarily on the initial tone and outreach approach of the campaign.
