Politics > California

Bianco and Hilton Both Need To Win California’s Jungle Primary

The candidates know a Republican can win only if both hold the top two spots in the jungle primary. Conservative voters need to vote accordingly.

Robin M. Itzler | May 8, 2026

Forget counting sheep. If you can’t get some shut-eye, just open the California primary booklet and read aloud the names of the 61 candidates running for governor: 24 Democrats, 12 Republicans, 1 Libertarian, 1 Peace and Freedom, and 23 running with no party affiliation. Ballots were mailed in early May, which means illegal aliens are being instructed on which Democrats should get their votes.

Yet, this primary season, there is some optimism on the right side of the aisle. With both Republican candidates—Steve Hilton and Chad Bianco—frequently maintaining the one and two positions in numerous polls, along with multiple Democrat gubernatorial candidates possibly splitting votes, there is a chance to save this leftist state come November. The whispered chatter is that both Republicans might be the top two vote-getters—and let’s hope that happens, because it’s the only path to a Republican victory.

For both Hilton and Bianco to be the top two winners, it would require a lot of disgruntled Democrats, along with No Party Preference voters, to vote Republican. Per the Independent Voter Project:

Democrat registered voters 44.96%

Republican registered voters 25.14%

No Party Preference 22.65%

Some Republican strategists say it is mathematically impossible for both Republican candidates to emerge as the top two primary winners. They insist that the only path to success is for Republicans to rally behind one of the two leading candidates. This is easier said than done since Hilton supporters want Bianco to drop out, and Bianco supporters want Hilton to drop out.

The establishment’s solution was to have President Trump make an endorsement, believing the MAGA base would coalesce behind that candidate. However, that didn’t happen after Trump endorsed Hilton on April 6. The endorsement helped Hilton, but there wasn’t any surge. So much for Commiecrats claiming Republicans will do whatever the president tells them to do.

While a Trump endorsement is often very helpful, it is not always a guarantee. This might be why Trump (so far) has changed his mind about endorsing a senatorial candidate in the Texas runoff between establishment incumbent Senator John........

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