Former British Conservative adviser Steve Hilton seeks to reshape California politics

Former adviser to the UK Conservative Party Steve Hilton is running in California's gubernatorial election and has a genuine chance of finishing in the top two in the primary race. Hilton, who once transformed British politics, now seeks to overhaul governance in America's largest state.

Former UK Conservative Party adviser Steve Hilton has set his sights on the California governorship and has a realistic chance of placing in the top two candidates in next week's primary race who will face off in the general election.

Hilton is known as a man who fundamentally reshaped traditional conservative politics in the UK early in his political career. Now he hopes to do the same in America's most populous state, where Democrats have dominated elections for decades.

California is the nation's largest state by both population and economic output, but in recent years it has faced serious challenges — including rising homelessness, soaring living costs, and an increasing exodus of businesses from the state. Hilton has pledged to tackle these issues directly and has proposed radical solutions.

Running as a Republican in a state where his party has significantly fewer voters than Democrats, Hilton nonetheless has attracted attention from observers who note his prospects are not negligible — especially given that many Californians are dissatisfied with current political leadership and are seeking alternatives.