GOP candidate cites ‘failure’ of Newsom, Dems as new poll shows Republicans leading crowded California field

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. ©2026 FOX News Network, LLC. All rights reserved. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Market data provided by Factset. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Legal Statement. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by LSEG. California Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton sounded off Gov. Gavin Newsom’s leadership calling him an "absolute failure on every front." Steve Hilton, a legal immigrant and political newcomer running as a Republican for governor of California, said the "absolute failure on every front" by current Gov. Gavin Newsom and Democrats means the GOP has a real shot at pulling off an upset in the Golden State. Though California has long since been written off by many as a progressive stronghold, the most recent polling indicates Hilton may be right. On Wednesday, Berkeley’s Institute of Governmental Studies released a poll showing Hilton leading California voter preferences at 17 percent. Another Republican, Riverside Sheriff Chad Bianco, follows at 16 percent. Both Republicans are ahead of the two top Democratic names, Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Ca