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Day: March 18, 2026

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

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

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-Calif., and former Rep. Katie Porter, who are each at 13 percent. “I know people look at California and assume that it’s going to be Democrat forever. It’s a deep blue state, but people here are sick of it. There’s a revolution brewing in California,” Hilton told Fox News Digital, adding, “This is our year.” CALIFORNIA GOP LAUNCHES PETITION TARGETING NEWSOM PAROLE BOARD OVER SEX OFFENDERS Hilton, an entrepreneur who immigrated to California from the United Kingdom in 2014, credits Newsom and years of one-party Democratic rule with voters waking up to the “complete disaster” unfolding in California. “It’s not just the visible signs of failure that you see when you look at California. You know the homelessness crisis, by far the worst in the country. The crime that’s out of control, the smash-and-grab rates, the videos of that — those things are visible. But if you actually look under the hood, as it were, of daily life in California, it is an absolute failure on every front,” he said, emphasizing, “It’s not just that we’re doing badly in California under Gavin Newsom, we are the worst-performing state.” He said that California’s sanctuary policies are a perfect illustration of this. “People are infuriated when they see illegal immigrants in our state getting rewarded and getting away with crime and getting away with things that just regular Californians wouldn’t be able to get away with,” he said. “It’s an insult to regular, hardworking California taxpayers when they see people who are here illegally getting things for free that they have to pay for.” Fox News Digital reached out to Newsom’s office for comment.  The same Berkeley poll indicated that 42 percent of California voters consider a candidate’s ability to “aggressively fight Trump administration policies” important in selecting their preferred candidate. Additionally, 28 percent believe a candidate holding progressive views is important. California saw some of the most dramatic expressions of anti-Trump sentiment in his first year, with anti-ICE riots breaking out throughout the summer. TRUMP QUESTIONS NEWSOM’S FITNESS FOR WHITE HOUSE, CITING HIS DYSLEXIA However, even with this, there is concern among Democratic strategists that the liberal and progressive vote will be split among the high number of Democratic candidates running for governor. Due to California’s unique top-two primary system, a fractured Democratic vote could mean Hilton and Bianco are the only two candidates to advance to the November general election. Hilton is confident that Republicans can capitalize on dissatisfaction with Newsom’s tenure as governor to propel them to victory. He referred to the anti-ICE agitators as a “very loud, well-organized, often well-funded minority of activists.” “It’s activists, political activists on the far left who are pushing this,” he said. “Most regular people believe that our laws should be properly enforced. That’s the majority position, I would say even in California.” Regarding his stance on the issue, Hilton said that as governor, he would “not accept California sanctuary state law,” and would “very clearly and strongly work with the federal administration to enforce the law.” “I have absolutely no doubt that standing up for the enforcement of the law and saying very clearly that, of course, this is America, and we want to welcome immigrants to our country, but it has to be done the right way, and if you break our laws to come here, then you shouldn’t be here. And it’s as simple as that,” he explained. NEWSOM KNOCKED FOR ‘INSANE’ CALIFORNIA GAS PRICES AFTER BLAMING TRUMP FOR RISING COSTS Being from a family of immigrants himself — his parents fled to the U.K. from communist Hungary — Hilton said he is solidly “pro-immigration,” while noting, “But it’s got to be controlled.” “I hear all the time that we should be offering a pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants. There is a pathway of citizenship. It’s called legal immigration. I just took it. It is available,” he said. Hilton concluded that while some conservatives may have written off California, he believes the gubernatorial race has an impact on the entire country. “So many of the terrible policies that are infecting the rest of the country, they all started here. The gender extremism, the climate extremism. All this nonsense, it started here in California,” he said. “So, if we beat them here, then we are doing something very important for the whole country.” “That’s why I think it’s a race that actually really matters a lot.” Fox News Digital reached out to the Swalwell and Porter campaigns for comment. 

Blue-state Democrat on fast track to Senate defies Schumer

Blue-state Democrat on fast track to Senate defies Schumer

Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton is on a glide path to the U.S. Senate. But Stratton, who captured the Democratic Senate nomination in blue-leaning Illinois by winning Tuesday’s primary, has made it clear that if she makes it to Capitol Hill, she won’t be supporting Sen. Chuck Schumer, the Democrats’ longtime leader in the chamber. And Stratton — who if victorious in November would become only the fifth Black woman in the nation’s history to win election to the Senate — is part of a sizable list of Democratic Senate candidates who are highlighting their opposition to Schumer continuing as the leader of their party in the chamber. PRITZKER SCORES BIG: STRATTON VICTORY IN DEMOCRATIC SENATE PRIMARY TEST OF GOVERNOR’S CLOUT  Stratton topped Reps. Raja Krishnamoorthi and Robin Kelly, her two leading rivals among a crowded field of contenders, in a contentious and extremely expensive Democratic Senate primary. Stratton was boosted by the support and deep pockets of her boss, billionaire Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker, who was unopposed as he landed re-nomination for a third term as governor. HEAD HERE FOR THE LATEST FOX NEWS COVERAGE ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL Schumer, along with the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee chair, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, congratulated Stratton immediately after her victory was called. “Juliana’s commitment to standing up for working families runs deep — and now, she’s taking that fight to the U.S. Senate. We are proud to congratulate Juliana on her history-making campaign, and we are excited to welcome her as the next U.S. Senator from Illinois in November,” Schumer and Gillibrand wrote in a statement. But Stratton, during her primary campaign, made her stance on Schumer crystal clear. “I’m the only person on this stage that has said so,” Stratton said during a recent debate, as she highlighted that she would not back Schumer as Democratic leader. “I’m the only candidate in this race that has made it clear I’m not going to support Chuck Schumer to lead the Democratic caucus, Senate caucus, because that’s not what people are looking for right now,” Stratton said in a recent NBC News interview. “They want someone who’s going to fight, and we need fighters and not folders.” And further explaining why she wouldn’t back Schumer, Stratton told progressive Gen Z political commentator Jack Cocchiarella, “What I’m hearing from voters all across the state of Illinois is that they’re fed up. They’re fed up with what’s happening in Washington. They”re fed up with business as usual and the status quo.” Stratton is far from the only Democratic Senate candidate to argue that the party needs younger and more aggressive leadership in the chamber to fight back against President Donald Trump‘s unprecedented second-term agenda. Among them are Graham Platner, the U.S. Marine and Army veteran and oyster farmer from Maine who has the backing of progressive champion Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont as he battles for the Democratic Senate nomination against two-term Gov. Janet Mills, who has Schumer’s tacit support. Also on the list is Michigan state Sen. Mallory McMorrow, one of three frontrunners battling for their party’s U.S. Senate nomination in the Great Lakes battleground.