Ex-Cameron Adviser Steve Hilton Enters California Governor Race.

2 months ago 4

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: Steve Hilton, a former Fox News host and adviser to Prime Minister David Cameron, has entered the 2026 California governor’s race as a Republican candidate.

👥 Who’s Involved: Steve Hilton, incumbent Governor Gavin Newsom (D), and potential contender and former Vice President Kamala Harris.

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📍 Where & When: The announcement took place in Los Angeles. The election is set for 2026, with Governor Newsom unable to run for another term.

💬 Key Quote: Referring to Harris, Hilton stated the governor’s job should not be awarded as a “consolation prize to a failed and rejected machine politician from Washington.”

⚠️ Impact: Hilton aims to tackle key issues such as high state taxes and housing prices, appealing to working families through what he terms “positive populism.”

IN FULL:

Steve Hilton, once a top adviser to former British Prime Minister David Cameron, has announced his candidacy in the 2026 California governor’s race. Running as a Republican, he aims to replace Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom, who is term-limited. Launching his campaign with the slogan “Golden Again: Great Jobs, Great Homes, Great Kids,” Hilton’s message emphasizes “positive populism” to resolve the Golden State’s issues.

Hilton, who spent six years hosting a show on Fox News, was director of strategy during Cameron’s first administration, helmed by the notionally center-right Conservative Party in partnership with the left-leaning Liberal Democrats. Having parted ways with Cameron over policy differences on Brexit and immigration—Cameron opposed the former and encouraged the latter, despite promising to reduce it substantially—Hilton has since reinvented himself as a more populist-presenting figure. His platform stresses supporting working families and addressing challenges like high taxes and expensive housing that “destroy the California dream.”

At a rally in Los Angeles, Hilton addressed a potential run at the governorship by Kamala Harris, the former U.S. Vice President and failed 2024 presidential candidate, who has held state roles as a Senator, state Attorney General, and District Attorney. He argued the role should not be a “consolation prize to be handed out to a failed and rejected machine politician from Washington… who thinks she should get this job because of her identity, not her ability.”

California’s election system, which sees an initial field of candidates reduced to a top two in a runoff election, adds a competitive edge for Republicans hoping to break a two-decade statewide election drought. The last Republican governor was Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2006, but as a candidate with firsthand experience in international politics and media, Hilton’s run could stir the state’s established political landscape.

Hilton’s past support for Brexit and the Trump campaign in 2016 illustrates his alignment with disruptive political elements. His gubernatorial bid may appeal to California voters interested in an outsider alternative, as the state grapples with high crime, homelessness, and increasingly unaffordable rents and house prices.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

PULSE POINTS:

❓ What Happened: Col. Ricky Buria, a former aide to Biden-era Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, has resigned from the Marine Corps and is reportedly transitioning into a senior civilian role under Trump-world Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, with consideration for the coveted chief of staff position. Buria, a recent Democrat donor, is the source of major concerns in Trump world.

👤 Who Was Involved: Ricky Buria, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, outgoing Chief of Staff Joe Kasper, former Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, Democratic congressional candidate Mike O’Brien, and former DoD official Anne Powers.

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🧾 Key Quote: “Ricky was only the [Senior Military Assistant] because he was the only guy standing,” a defense official told Defense News.

⚠️ Fallout: Officials inside the Department of Defense and the White House have raised concerns about Buria’s close ties to the previous administration.

📌 Significance: The personnel move highlights unresolved tensions surrounding staffing and loyalty inside the Pentagon’s top ranks.

IN FULL:

Col. Ricky Buria, a former junior military assistant (JMA) to Lloyd Austin, is reportedly in line for a senior civilian advisory position under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, according to multiple defense officials. Buria began terminal leave from the Marine Corps last week and is even under consideration for the role of chief of staff following the departure of Joe Kasper, according to numerous sources familiar with the matter.

But Buria was first appointed to the Pentagon in April 2024 under the Biden government. After Hegseth’s confirmation, Buria remained in place–a “holdover”–while other senior staff were dismissed. He temporarily filled the position of acting senior military assistant (SMA).

“Ricky was only the SMA because he was the only guy standing,” an official told Defense News.

In recent months, Buria has accompanied Hegseth on official travel and participated in high-level meetings. On a recent trip to Panama, Buria was present for discussions with the Panamanian government regarding canal access. He also joined a bilateral meeting in Washington with El Salvador’s Minister of Defense, seated two chairs away from the secretary.

Multiple officials say Buria has taken on expanded responsibilities beyond those typical of a junior military assistant, including personnel input and attendance at foreign policy briefings.

Additionally, campaign finance data uncovered by The National Pulse shows that Buria made a donation in 2023 via ActBlue to Democrat Mike O’Brien, a former Marine and candidate in Pennsylvania’s 10th Congressional District. O’Brien was endorsed by VoteVets–a left-wing group that claims President Trump “hates veterans,” and has attempted to destabilize his Department of Defense using the now-infamous “Signal group chat” story as a cudgel. The group even publicly called for Hegseth to be fired.

Buria has maintained relationships with former Biden-era Pentagon staffers. In a LinkedIn comment, former Department of Defense official Anne Powers publicly referred to Buria as her “partner in crime,” while he heaped praise on others and vice versa.

The White House personnel office is reviewing Buria’s transition to civilian service. Approval is required for senior advisory appointments.

Buria was promoted to colonel in fall 2024. Under standard requirements, officers must serve two years at a given rank to retire at that grade. Without a waiver, he is expected to retire as a lieutenant colonel.

Four top officials have departed Hegseth’s team in recent days. The staffing turnover has left a gap in senior leadership, which Buria is currently helping fill, much to the chagrin of many across the Trump administration.

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