California GOP Defies Trump: Breaks Ranks in Pivotal Governor’s Race Showdown

Last week, President Donald Trump threw his support behind Republican Steve Hilton in the race for California’s governorship. However, state Republicans appear to have different ideas.

In a surprising move on Sunday, the California GOP chose not to endorse any Republican candidate for governor, effectively rejecting Trump’s preferred choice.

During the voting, Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco received more support from party delegates but fell short of the 60 percent threshold needed for an endorsement. Bianco garnered 49 percent of the votes, while Hilton secured 44 percent.

Despite the lack of a definitive result, Sheriff Bianco considered the outcome a victory, as he expressed to KCRA.

“The margin shouldn’t have been this narrow. The energy in the room suggested it wouldn’t be, yet it was,” Bianco remarked. “We remain confident that we’ll be leading from the governor’s office come January.”

Meanwhile, Hilton remains ahead in the polls and continues to emphasize Trump’s endorsement, which he highlighted on social media. “It’s time to rally behind the candidate with the endorsement that counts—President Trump’s!” Hilton declared.

In the latest polls, Hilton has consistently led the pack, hovering around 16 to 22 percent across all voters. Bianco has at times come second or third to Hilton, hovering around 10 to 14 percent.

While many predicted Trump’s endorsement would funnel Republican support toward Hilton, Sunday’s result complicates that narrative.

It also increases the chances of a Democratic nightmare coming true: where due to a crowded Democratic field, the June primary sees both Hilton and Bianco getting the most votes and therefore locking out Democrats from the general election.

Both Hilton and Bianco have not been afraid to take swipes at each other.

Bianco has stirred up drama on how quickly Hilton obtained his citizenship, for example. He even denounced Trump’s endorsement.

“For too long, politicians and insiders from Sacramento to Washington have tried to pick our leaders for us,” Bianco said on social media. “That’s not leadership. That’s a coronation.”

Hilton has dismissed Bianco with his lower polling status and taken swipes at some of the sheriff’s policies, including on immigration.