California Republicans are divided over the race for governor

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Despite President Donald Trump’s intervention, California Republicans they refused to join about a single gubernatorial candidate this weekend.

The party faithful, many of whom wore “Trump 2028” hats and paid more than $1,000 for hotels and flights to gather in sunny San Diego, split their votes fairly evenly between Steve Hilton, a businessman and former Fox News host who has received the president’s endorsement, and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco.

The final tally was 49% for Bianco and 44% for Hilton, both below the 60% threshold needed to gain party support.

Hilton, a British-American who leads the polls among all candidates, started the weekend as a relative outsider. He called blocking Bianco’s endorsement a “huge success” and said he remains “very confident” he will win one of the top two seats in California’s June 2 primary.

“Chad Bianco came to this convention assuming he had it all figured out,” Hilton said. “I think we made a lot of progress this weekend to even things out.”

Sheriff, who spent months trying to win the support of delegates and influential party members, insisted that the final count did not accurately reflect the degree of support he had within the party.

Hilton, one of the top fundraisers in the race, has raised more than $6.6 million so far, surpassing Bianco’s earnings by more than $2 million.

“It doesn’t change anything in our campaign,” Bianco said after Sunday’s vote. Although he didn’t even get a majority of the vote, he insisted: “I have the support of the vast majority of those present, much more than the stated result.”

“Endorsements are bullshit,” he added, before also admitting that a party endorsement “would be nice.”

Bianco made the news last month for confiscate hundreds of thousands of ballots issued in the special election on Proposition 50, a Democratic plan to redraw congressional districts that was approved by voters. CalMatters was one of several media outlets that They approached the court to publicize the court orders which authorizes the confiscation of ballots.

Uncertainty about the future of the Republican Party

There’s no denying that Republicans nationally could suffer heavy defeats in the upcoming midterm elections, although sea breezes, harbor views and sunny weather with temperatures around 18 degrees Celsius may soften the discomfort. Even some of the most staunchly conservative members of the party acknowledged the difficult task.

Speaking on a congressional panel moderated by former White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer, Congressman Darrell Issa admitted that Republicans “may not hold the House in the midterm elections.”

Issa, who chose to retire rather than seek re-election after Democrats significantly redrawn his 48th district as part of their Proposition 50 Redirection Plan agreed that Republicans should focus on local issues, not just national talking points, as a way to combat what he called “Trump loathing syndrome.”

“Is our base excited?” Spicer asked Congressman Tom McClintock, who also spoke on the panel.

“I think maybe by the summer,” McClintock said, “after we get through all the turbulence coming out of Iran.”

Criticism of the Democrats provided some comic relief and unity despite the discouraging prospect : The president’s party almost always suffers defeats in midterm elections. California Republicans celebrated the downfall of Democratic Rep. Eric Swawell who has been accused by several women of sexual assault and until this weekend was the Democratic front-runner in the race for governor. His potential defeat fueled the Republican argument that Democrats, whose gubernatorial vote is split among eight candidates, are incapable of consistent leadership.

“It’s been a few hours, so I think it’s time for another Eric Swawell-style interruption,” Hilton joked at the start of his speech during a candidate forum on Saturday. “Thank goodness the Democrats have a good Plan B.”

Trump “should have stayed away.”

Political strategists theorized that Trump’s endorsement of Hilton would guarantee a Democratic victory in November, consolidating the Republican vote and eliminating the possibility that Republicans could shut Democrats out of the June primary.

But party insiders in San Diego remain confident that both Hilton and Bianco will continue to overcome a group of non-working Democrats. Corinne Rankin, chairman of the California Republican Party, pointed to numerous polls showing Hilton and Bianco in the top two spots.

“I don’t see why it still wouldn’t be,” Rankin told reporters on Friday. “Californians see these two Republicans as better than any of the Democratic candidates.”

Rankin also said she was surprised Trump would speak on any issue related to California. “It’s not something I usually do,” he said.

Bianco said he was not concerned about Trump’s decision to endorse his opponent. Throughout the weekend, he was given the celebrity treatment, walking around the resort with an entourage of followers. His fans stopped him from taking selfies and videos for their social networks. Many waved flags and signs bearing his name and phrases such as: “Only the sheriff can save us now!”

“For me, it’s never been about getting an endorsement,” Bianco said after Saturday’s forum, where candidates for public office made their closing arguments to delegates. “That drive, that excitement was amazing. It definitely motivates me. It shows me that I’m doing the right thing and that we’re going to save our country.”

The sheriff’s supporters were also undeterred by Trump’s support for his opponent.

“I’m not going to change my vote. I don’t care who I support. I’m going to vote for the best candidate for the state of California, and I don’t think he supported it,” said Santa Barbara County Delegate April Huckabee. “He should have stayed away,” he added. “Let’s run our country.”

Huckabee and her friend Lee Collier, also of Santa Barbara, agreed that the president’s endorsement would not sway Bianco’s supporters. However, it might make some hesitant people seriously consider the Hilton.

Some of Hilton’s supporters were cautiously optimistic about the president’s endorsement, but were also aware of how her association with Trump could backfire on people who dislike the president.

“There are so many people who hate our president that you wonder, ‘Could this backfire?'” said Pat Frizzelli, delegate and treasurer of the Calaveras County Central Committee. “You’re just worrying.”

Vicki Reinke, president of the Calaveras County Central Committee, said she was impressed by Hilton’s entrepreneurial background as a startup founder, as well as his experience working for British Prime Minister David Cameron. He also liked his proactive attitude and willingness to see his projects through.

Your county’s annual benefit dinner honoring Lincoln and Reagan where Hilton was scheduled to be the keynote speaker, coincided with the funeral of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk. Reinke was impressed that Hilton attended his event after attending the funeral in Glendale, Arizona.

“I could have canceled,” she said. “But he made sure he was at our event, as well as going to see Charlie Kirk. That impressed us a lot.”

“Promises are made and kept,” Frizelli reiterated.

Hilton argues that Trump’s support can only benefit him by mobilizing the party base, as Democrats will try to tie a Republican candidate like him to the president anyway. And despite the hopes of party leaders, he was also confident that there would be no landslide GOP victory in June.

“It’s very clear that I’m going to be in the top two. I don’t know who the Democrat is going to be, but it’s going to be a Democrat for sure,” Hilton said.