Steve Hilton, a Republican running for governor in California, said Sunday that President Trump\u2019s low approval rating in his state will not play a role in the outcome of the gubernatorial race.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis election is going to be about the future of California and the fact that we\u2019re desperate for change in California,\u201d Hilton, whom Trump endorsed earlier this month, told host Chris Stirewalt on \u201cThe Hill Sunday.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The conservative commentator and adviser to former British Prime Minister David Cameron went on to lament the Golden State\u2019s poverty and unemployment rates, along with the high cost of living, and said those issues have \u201cnothing to do\u201d with Trump.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat\u2019s entirely due to Democrat policies after 16 years of one-party rule,\u201d Hilton continued. \u201cThat\u2019s the argument that I\u2019ll be making in the debate on Wednesday and then into the general election.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhy would you expect a different result if you keep voting the same way? The answer for California is not another Democrat. It\u2019s a completely new direction and that\u2019s what I\u2019m offering.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A poll conducted last May by the Public Policy Institute of California found that just 29 percent of California adults approve of Trump, including 82 percent of Republicans, 31 percent of independents and 6 percent of Democrats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ahead of Wednesday\u2019s debate on Nexstar affiliate KTLA-TV in Los Angeles, the race to advance to the general election after the June 2 primary remains heated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After former Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) withdrew from the race after multiple women accused him of sexual misconduct, a poll conducted last week by Emerson College found that 17 percent of 1,000 respondents backed Hilton, 14 percent backed Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco (R), 14 percent backed businessman Tom Steyer (D) and 10 percent each backed former Rep. Katie Porter (D) and former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra (D).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The two leading vote-getters, regardless of party, will advance to the general election. California has not had a Republican governor since former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) left office in January 2011.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But Hilton threw cold water on the potential that he and Bianco will advance to the general election.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019ve never thought that\u2019s a realistic possibility,\u201d he told Stirewalt. \u201cYou\u2019ve got the massive financial power of the government unions and their corrupt relationship with the Democrat politicians. You\u2019ve got the billionaire Tom Steyer. They will spend whatever it takes to make sure that there\u2019s a Democrat in the top two.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As for which Democrat he expects to face if he advances to the general, Hilton predicted it would be Steyer or Porter. The former Fox News host said it is \u201cvery important\u201d to \u201cmake sure\u201d that two Democrats do not advance from the primary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat actually is the scenario I think we really need to be worried about and that we need to unite behind the leading Republican,\u201d Hilton added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n