Steve Hilton, once a prominent figure in British conservative politics, is now making waves in the California governor’s race. This political shift has left some of his former colleagues in Britain surprised.
Earlier this year, at a forum, the California governor candidates shared their television habits. Hilton, supported by President Trump, mentioned the British political satire The Thick of It. It is a show produced by the creators of Veep. He described it as “incredibly profane” and pointed out a character that is supposedly based on him.
The character curses like you’ve never seen before.
The 56-year-old Republican is not the typical candidate for California, a state known for its Democratic leaning. Having served as Prime Minister David Cameron’s right-hand man, Hilton moved to California 14 years ago and became a Fox News commentator. Now, he is a front-runner in the primary for California governor. The top two vote-getters, irrespective of party, will compete in the general election in November.
Hilton’s new political role in America has bemused his British counterparts. In The Thick of It, his alter ego, Stewart Pearson, is a comical character trying to sell complicated ideas to confused colleagues, often spouting nonsensical phrases. In real life, Hilton was a striking figure known for walking around Downing Street barefoot and proposing unusual ideas. He once suggested cloud-bursting technology to increase sunshine in Britain and considered abolishing maternity leave, though he has disputed how these ideas were presented.
Back in 2012, Hilton left politics, following his wife Rachel Whetstone to the United States. Rachel, also a Tory strategist, pursued a successful career in tech, holding top communications positions at companies like Netflix and Google. Hilton transitioned into media, hosting a show on Fox News. His campaign for governor has received donations from media mogul Rupert Murdoch and Google’s co-founder Sergey Brin, as campaign finance records reveal.
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