Steve Hilton, once a prominent figure in British conservative politics, has now entered the American political scene. He is running in the California governor’s race, a development that has surprised his former colleagues in the UK.
Earlier this year, during a forum for California governor candidates, the discussion turned to TV shows. Hilton, endorsed by President Trump, mentioned watching a British political satire called The Thick of It. He described it as “incredibly profane,” noting a character that curses like no other. He humorously revealed his “horror” at discovering a character based on himself.
“To my horror, there is a character based on me,” he said.
At 56, Hilton is not a conventional candidate for California, one of the nation’s leading Democratic states. Originally from Britain, he served as an advisor to Prime Minister David Cameron. After relocating to California 14 years ago, Hilton transitioned to a pundit role on Fox News. Now, he is a top contender in the upcoming primary where the two leading candidates will progress to the November general election.
Hilton’s American career has intrigued those who knew him in Britain. His portrayal in The Thick of It as a character named Stewart Pearson, highlighted by eccentric behavior such as promoting “thought circles” and odd phrases like “knowledge is porridge,” only contributed to his unique persona. His reputation grew as an unconventional figure, noted for walking Downing Street barefoot and suggesting controversial ideas such as cloud-bursting for better weather and wanting to abolish maternity leave—ideas he later contested in their representation.
In 2012, Hilton departed from politics to join his wife, Rachel Whetstone, in the United States. At that time, Whetstone had a flourishing career in the tech sector with high-ranking communications roles at Netflix and Google. Hilton found his niche as a Fox News host. His campaign finance records indicate major support from Rupert Murdoch, founder of the media company behind Fox News, and Sergey Brin, Google’s co-founder.