Steve Hilton, who is running for governor of California, told reporters on Monday that if he can finish top two in the gubernatorial primary, he can turn the Golden State red.
Tuesday’s primary will see the top two vote-getters advance to the general election regardless of party.
“Most of the polls are showing me either leading or in the second slot,” Hilton, one of two leading Republican candidates, said. “There was that one poll that showed me third. And frankly, I’m behaving as if I’m third.”
“I’m telling all my supporters to assume that that’s the poll,” Hilton added. “Because we can’t let this slip away. It does look good. It looks like we’re going to get into the top two.”
Hilton said he knows he will be able to win in the blue state that hasn’t elected a Republican to the governor’s office since Arnold Schwarzenegger.
“In a recent poll, 56% of Californians said that [the] state’s going in the wrong direction,” Hilton said. “There’s a majority for change in California. You’re seeing the energy behind my campaign. We are done with these Democrats, but it’s not going to happen unless people vote.”
“I’m the only candidate that’s able to get in the top two that’s going to bring about change,” Hilton added.
Hilton has been attempting to consolidate support among Republicans, even though Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco remains in the race.
Hilton said that if enough people go for Bianco, it could put two Democrats in the top two.
“I’ve been very clear to Chad personally,” Hilton said. “I have the utmost respect for him and for his supporters, but we’ve had a year now. We’ve had the debates. It’s now just about the math.”
“And the math is very clear. I’m afraid he doesn’t have the possibility of getting in the top two,” Hilton added. “So every vote for Chad is actually a vote that makes it more likely we’ll end up with two Democrats.”
Hilton said Californians are starting to realize they have suffered under one-party rule.
California has “ended up with the highest poverty rate, the highest unemployment rate, the highest cost of living in the country by far,” Hilton said. “We’ve got chaos, crime, homelessness, everything is falling apart. We pay the highest taxes in the country for the worst results.”
“It’s time for change. But it’s also time for some balance. It’s not healthy to have one party running everything for so long,” Hilton added.
