Staff Reports
California voters are voting in the primary today, and two unlikely Republicans have forced a lot of national attention. Steve Hilton in the governor’s race and Spencer Pratt in the Los Angeles mayoral race are running loud, flashy campaigns. Under the state’s top-two, or “jungle,” primary rules, both could shake up the usual Democratic dominance — or flame out spectacularly. Either way, it’s finally interesting politics in a state that usually naps through real change.
Steve Hilton: Trump’s endorsement turns heads in the governor’s race
Steve Hilton’s run for Governor of California got a big jolt when President Donald Trump publicly endorsed him. That kind of headline matters in a top-two primary. A single big name can pull votes together from a crowded field and blunt the vote-splitting that typically dooms Republicans in California.
Hilton talks about taxes, crime, and fixing state failures in plain language. That message lands with voters who are tired of high costs and unsafe streets. The Trump endorsement doesn’t guarantee victory, but in a jungle primary it could change the math. If Republicans coalesce around a clear leader, they have a real shot at making Democrats sweat come November.
Spencer Pratt and the AI ads: clever, chaotic, and a headache for the left
Spencer Pratt’s mayoral campaign has been a social-media spectacle. Viral, cinematic AI videos portray Pratt as a tough, cinematic hero and paint Mayor Karen Bass and other Democrats as villains. Pratt calls many of the clips “fan-made,” yet he hasn’t shied away from sharing them or the buzz they create. The ads are clever and cheap to produce, and they do what modern campaigns need: grab attention.
Mayor Karen Bass has criticized the content as part of a “violent trend” and warned that some of the imagery is disturbing. That’s a fair concern, but the bigger point is that AI makes it easy to create striking political content overnight. Conservatives should enjoy the tactical win while also pushing for clear rules about attribution and safety. If the left wants to cry about “violence,” they might try answering to voters about why their cities look the way they do.
Why the jungle primary matters to both races
California’s top-two system advances the two highest vote-getters to the general election, no matter the party. That creates odd math. When Democrats run many candidates, their votes can splinter. A single energetic Republican—or a celebrity insurgent—can slip into the top two on a wave of attention. That’s the theory behind the Hilton and Pratt campaigns.
But theory meets reality. Los Angeles has been bleeding conservative voters for years. Many people who would cheer Pratt live outside city limits now. And statewide, Republican turnout stays fragile unless the party unites. So yes, these campaigns could force runoffs. They might also collapse because of vote-splitting, weak ground operations, or plain old California inertia.
What to watch and why conservatives should care
Watch the numbers tonight for advances to the general election. Look at which candidates consolidate votes and which ones split the base. Pay attention to whether the Trump endorsement translates into real, on-the-ground GOP consolidation for Steve Hilton. And watch how AI-made campaign material shifts the conversation about message and rules in modern politics.
If either Hilton or Pratt breaks through, it will be because voters are fed up and willing to try something different. If they fail, it won’t be because their ideas were weak. It will be because Democrats still run the machines and California’s top-two math can choke off insurgents. Either way, the primary shows one thing: conservatives in the Golden State are no longer whispering about leaving — they’re trying to fight back. That’s worth raising a glass to, even if the odds are long.
