Republican gubernatorial hopeful Steve Hilton is injecting AI-driven political theater into California’s race for governor, debuting a glossy new campaign ad Thursday that casts Gov. Gavin Newsom, former Vice President Kamala Harris and the state Democratic power structure as a sprawling political “machine” designed to produce Xavier Becerra as California’s next chief executive.
The ad was created by Charles Curran, the filmmaker behind the viral “Pratt-Man” video that featured reality TV figure Spencer Pratt during Pratt’s unsuccessful bid for mayor of Los Angeles.
Running about two minutes, Hilton’s spot — titled “Machine” — combines AI-generated animation with real campaign footage to argue that California Democrats are engineering Becerra as Newsom’s heir while everyday residents face rising taxes, costly gasoline and persistent homelessness.
“This ad is showing what this is all about — the people against the corrupt machine in Sacramento,” Hilton told The Post.
The release follows Hilton’s appeal one day earlier for backing from voters who oppose Donald Trump.
“Our government has been hijacked by a group of special interests and regular Californians have been losing out.”
The video begins with a narrator warning, “As long as the machine leaves California, nothing will ever change,” before cutting to a mother holding a baby who says, “I don’t know if we can continue living here.”
From there, the ad moves into an AI-rendered boardroom, where animated versions of Newsom, Harris and wealthy political insiders gather around a conference table. Nearby sit figures labeled “nonprofits,” “Chamber of Commerce” and “government unions,” as Newsom tells the room, “Okay, we got to figure out this governor’s thing. I’d do it forever, but it’s my turn to be president.”
“Bring in the machine,” Newsom says. The machine flashes the name Becerra.
“The Biden guy who lost all those kids,” Newsom says.
“That can’t be right. Run it again,” Harris replies.
Newsom then describes it as “the thing we created to make sure nothing ever changes.” he adds, “As long as you submit to the machine, you don’t have to do anything.”
Becerra, realizing the task at hand, smiles and says: “Nothing. I can do that.”
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The ad later depicts Becerra being shouted down by an angry crowd before being pelted with an object, then pivoting to Hilton speaking before cheering supporters.
“Who else is tired of the highest taxes in the country, the highest gas prices in the country, the worst homelessness in the country?” Hilton asks. “This is our state, not the machines. That’s what we’re fighting for!”
In the closing sequence, protesters storm what appears to be the Capitol rotunda, taking on robots in suits, before a firefighter tosses Hilton a California flag, which he plants into the front of the giant machine.
“Time to take California back!” Hilton shouts.
The ad ends back inside the fictional boardroom, where Harris turns to Newsom and asks, “Can we get Swalwell back?”
Hilton said early reaction to the video has been overwhelmingly positive.
“I’m getting texts from people who say they love it,” he said. “It’s the kind of energy we need.”
The commercial also marks Hilton’s embrace of the viral AI-generated political videos that have become an increasingly visible feature of California campaigns.
“Of course Steve is playing to his Trump-loving MAGA base — the only folks who can stand to watch an ad with him in it,” said Jonathan Underland, Becerra’s spokesperson.
“Force-feeding voters AI slop didn’t play out well for Spencer, and it won’t work for Steve,“ he added.
Unlike those videos, Hilton said, the new ad was produced directly for his campaign.
With Newsom barred by term limits from seeking another term, the race will determine who leads California beginning next year.
Hilton said voters should expect more unconventional AI-enhanced campaign ads.
“This is just the first,” he said. “A lot more to come.”
