Trump just handed California Dems an overnight gift with surprise endorsement: report

Donald Trump has done the one thing California Republicans begged him not to do — and in doing so, may have handed the governor's race to Democrats, Politico is reporting.

Late Sunday night, Trump endorsed Fox News personality Steve Hilton for California governor on Truth Social, potentially delivering a fatal blow to GOP rival Chad Bianco's campaign and demolishing Republican hopes of keeping Democrats out of the runoff.

"I have known and respected Steve Hilton, who is running for Governor of California, for many years. He is a truly fine man, one who has watched as this once great State has gone to Hell," Trump wrote, before attacking Gov. Gavin Newsom. "Steve can turn it around, before it is too late, and, as President, I will help him to do so!"

The endorsement represents a stunning act of political self-sabotage. California Republicans had explicitly argued that their narrow path to the governor's mansion depended on Trump staying completely out of the race.

The strategy was simple: in California's "jungle primary," a large Democratic field would split the vote, potentially allowing two Republicans — Hilton and Bianco, the Riverside County sheriff — to evenly divide GOP support and advance to the runoff while locking out Democrats.

Trump's endorsement destroys that calculus entirely. By boosting Hilton, he makes it far less likely that both Republicans can split the vote evenly and keep Democrats out of the general election.

The political damage extends beyond the primary dynamics. Political data expert Rob Pyers of California Target Book explained the cascading consequences: "Trump's endorsement of Steve Hilton likely frees up tens of millions of dollars for Democratic groups who would have otherwise had to spend heavily to elevate one of the two leading GOP gubernatorial candidates to avoid a Democratic lockout."

In other words, Democrats no longer need to spend their own resources boosting a Republican to prevent an all-Democratic general election. Trump's endorsement accomplished that for them.

The irony is especially acute because Hilton himself had been trying to avoid exactly this scenario. In a state where Democrats vastly outnumber Republicans and Trump is widely despised, Hilton sought to keep the race focused on California issues.

"The media obsession and the California Democrats' obsession with Trump doesn't do our state any favors. We have to focus on California issues, and that's what I'm doing," Hilton said last week.