Republican candidate Steve Hilton faces backlash after releasing a campaign video titled “Just Try It, California,” which critics describe as sexually suggestive. Multiple outlets report that the ad shows two young women in a dimly lit setting with a pride flag in the background. In the video, one character expresses nervousness while another coaxes her and prompts her to submit a ballot for Hilton using explicit innuendo.
The criticism comes largely from within Hilton’s own party, with some Republicans calling the messaging “creepy.” The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, and the Brisbane Times characterize the ad as likening voting Republican to a lesbian tryst, reflecting concern about tone and the use of sexual stereotypes in political advertising. While the outlets differ mainly in phrasing, they largely agree on the core issue: the ad’s sexual innuendo and the resulting negative reaction.
Hilton’s campaign is framed by the coverage as a longshot bid for California governor, and the dispute highlights friction over how far campaign messaging should go, particularly when it uses provocative imagery and language.
