LIZ PEEK: California voters fed up with Democrats may turn to Steve Hilton for change

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In 2016, then-presidential candidate Trump famously asked Black voters “What do you have to lose?”

Trump challenged African American voters to rethink their long-standing allegiance to the Democrat Party, which, he rightly claimed, took them for granted and had failed to deliver on the most pressing demands of African American families, including providing their kids with a good education.

WHY ERIC SWALWELL WAS FORCED TO QUIT CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR’S RACE AFTER SEXUAL MISCONDUCT ALLEGATIONS

Even some Democrats, like gubernatorial candidate and tech entrepreneur Matt Mahan, are saying the state should change course.Mahan, a Silicon Valley and Harvard graduate who has served for three years as mayor of San Jose, says, “We don’t need MAGA, but we don’t need more of the same,” and has criticized his party on numerous issues, including its handling of homelessness andpublic safety.

Primary day in California is June 2;mail-in votingbegan yesterday.At the moment, Hilton is leading a large field of candidates;as unimaginable as it may seem, the Republican has a shot.

Up until recently, Hilton’s odds were even better because of the way California’s election primary works and because a slew of Democrats were in the running.

The state hosts an open primary, so the two top candidates will face off come Election Day in November, regardless of party.A few weeks ago, Hilton and fellow Republican Chad Bianco, sheriff of Riverside County, were leading the crowded field, with more than eight Democrats splitting their party’s vote.If Hilton and Bianco had finished first and second in the June vote, California would have been on course to elect its first Republican governor sinceArnold Schwarzenegger.

Democrats were so panicked by that possibility they frantically called for members of their party to exit the race.When that failed, they appear to have engineered the termination of DemocratEric Swalwell’s run, and career, by revealing sexual assault accusations that had been circling the congressman for some time.It was a merciless but brilliant move.Swalwell was leading at the time but could have become a political liability should the unsavory allegations have surfaced at a critical time in the campaign.

Also, Swalwell’s exit boosted the campaigns of billionaire environmental activistTom Steyerand Xavier Becerra, former Biden cabinet official.Both are now running just behind Hilton.Bianco has dropped to fourth place.

If Hilton squares off against Steyer, Becerra or another Democrat, could he still win?It would certainly be an uphill battle.About 46% of California voters are registered Democrats, with the balance being roughly split betweenRepublicansand Independents.Also, Hilton has been endorsed by President Trump, whose approval rating in California is below 40%.

On the other hand, the Democrat field is weak, even by that party’s standards.A recent piece in The New York Times discussed her party’s dismay that former Vice PresidentKamala Harrishad not entered the gubernatorial race, with officials conceding that the field is “lackluster.” A year ago, Harris was the favorite contender, according to an Emerson poll, with about 31% of voters and 49% of Democrats backing her run.Instead of jumping into the governor’s race, Harris has been hinting at a third run for the Oval Office.

Tom Steyer, progressive hedge fund manager, is now running second thanks to his enormous self-financing.Cal Matters recently reported that Steyer was “on track to run the most expensivegubernatorial campaignin state history, having already spent more than $132 million.”

With Democrats nationally hewing hard left and adopting a socialist-style anti-wealth platform, Steyer would be an odd choice.

Another contender is Xavier Becerra, a former Democratic congressman and formerly head of Health and Human Services under Biden, who picked up a lot of the traditional Democrat Eric Swalwell vote.

Hilton brings to the campaign a fresh and common-sense approach to California’s problems.Like most Americans, Californians are struggling with the highcost of living, with 70% in that CBS poll saying it is “unmanageable.” People are discouraged about the state’s economy, with considerable majorities of Republicans and Independents and even 39% of Democrats describing it as “bad.”

highest number of individual donors, and he has traveled the state hosting boisterous and enthusiastic rallies.He could deliver what California voters want: change.

What do they have to lose?

Company.For more visit LizPeek.com.Follow her on Twitter @LizPeek.