Stephen Glenn Charles Hilton (born 25 August 1969)[2][3] is an American conservative political commentator, former political adviser, and contributor for the Fox News Channel.[4] He served as director of strategy for British prime minister David Cameronfrom 2010 to 2012.[5] Hilton hosted The Next Revolution, a weekly current affairs show for Fox News from 2017 to 2023.[6] He is a proponent of what he calls “positive populism” and is a strong endorser of U.S. President Donald Trump.[7] He was a co-founder of the crowd-funding platform Crowdpac,[8] but resigned as CEO in 2018. Hilton is a candidate in the 2026 California gubernatorial election.
Endorsements
Donald J. Trump. Presumably lots of Republicans but he does not list endorsements on his web site.
Reputation/Scandals/Successes
Steve Hilton has a multifaceted and highly polarized reputation that spans British politics, American cable news, and California electoral campaigns. Observers alternatively view him as a brilliant, “blue-sky” political modernizer, a populist media provocateur, or an energetic, policy-driven pragmatist. [1, 2, 3]
His general reputation is defined by several key areas:
The Political Strategist and Modernizer [1]
- The Cameron “Guru”: In the United Kingdom, Hilton built a reputation as the eccentric, idea-driven strategist who rebranded the modern Conservative Party. He is credited with shaping the “compassionate conservatism” image that propelled David Cameron to Prime Minister in 2010.
- The Non-Conformist Thinker: In Whitehall, he was famous for walking around barefoot, pushing radical “blue-sky” policy ideas, and aggressively challenging entrenched government bureaucracies. [1, 2]
The Media Persona and “Positive Populist” [1]
- Fox News Commentator: After moving to Silicon Valley in 2012, Hilton pivoted to American media. From 2017 to 2023, he hosted The Next Revolution on the Fox News Channel, cementing his reputation as a staunch conservative defender of the “MAGA” agenda.
- Anti-Establishment Intellectual: Through his television work and books like More Human and Positive Populism, Hilton positioned himself as a champion of decentralized power. He frequently attacks “ruling class elites,” global corporations, big tech, and “big food” systems, earning a reputation for ideological unpredictability that occasionally crosses standard left-right divides. [1, 2, 3]
The California Gubernatorial Candidate
- The Policy-Meister and Frontrunner: Hilton has surged to the forefront of the California governor’s race, building a reputation as a highly energetic, camera-ready candidate who is deeply focused on the state’s cost-of-living crisis. Supporters praise him as an authentic communicator tackling housing affordability and rampant homelessness.
- The Pragmatist Label: Hilton rejects strictly partisan branding, marketing himself as a problem solver with “Californable” economic proposals to cut utility bills, lower gas costs, and slash income taxes. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
Key Criticisms and Regional Friction
- The Trump Factor: Hilton’s reputation faces a sharp partisan divide due to his endorsement from Donald Trump. Critics argue he is too aligned with Trump for a deep-blue state like California where Trump is broadly unpopular. Political opponents suggest his policies would harm the economy, while others accuse him of doing a delicate political dance to appease the MAGA base while trying not to alienate moderate independents.
- Intra-Party Conflict: Grassroots factions within the California Republican party have pushed back against him, occasionally viewing him as a Washington/globalist insider compared to local figures like his primary rival, Sheriff Chad Bianco. Critics also point to his business background, noting a history of short-lived ventures before he shifted strictly into political media and advocacy. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]
Campaign contributors
Has raised over $9.7M, primarily from individuals but some businesses as well. A full list is available at transparencyusa.org.
