Republican California governor candidate Steve Hilton says he would appoint a Democrat to the U.S. Senate if a vacancy arose during his tenure, should either of the state’s two current Democratic senators leave office.
Hilton made the commitment during an appearance on “Pod Save America.” Host Jon Lovett asked him to consider a hypothetical opening created by the departure of either Sen. Alex Padilla or Sen. Adam Schiff.
“I just think you’ve got to honor the vote that people took,” Hilton said, pointing to California voters’ decision to elect both senators.
Hilton is set to face Democrat Xavier Becerra in November’s California gubernatorial election. President Donald Trump endorsed Hilton’s campaign in April.
The potential Senate appointment remains purely hypothetical, though California governors have previously exercised that authority to fill vacant Senate seats.
