Steve Hilton Concedes California Governor Race at Garden Grove Event

Steve Hilton conceded the California governor's race on Tuesday night inside a Hyatt ballroom in Garden Grove. The announcement came shortly after 8 p.m., minutes following the close of polls and the Associated Press call of the race for his Democratic opponent, Xavier Becerra.

The event took place in a dimly lit room where news channels were turned off and music played loudly. A lectern sat on an empty stage in front of a photo of the Golden Gate Bridge at sunset. Many attendees looked at one another or checked their phones to view the growing list of Republican losses across the country.

Hilton addressed the crowd to formally give up the contest. He noted the difficult environment for the party in that year. He said, "Maybe this isn't the best year to be running for office as a Republican," referring to the nationwide results that led Democrats to gain seats in the House and the Senate.

Hilton had run a campaign that included a television spot urging voters to "Just Try" supporting him. He also sought to distance his message from President Donald Trump, who supported his bid. The candidate criticized Becerra for remaining largely out of the public eye after winning a primary election.

As of Wednesday afternoon, Hilton had received approximately 36 percent of the vote. Matt Shupe, a spokesperson for the California Republican Party, said the party faces tough conditions in a state where Democrats outnumber Republicans two to one. He described the outcome as expected for a party not in power. Shupe added, "We'll plan on bringing the fight more intensely than ever in 2028."

By 9:30 p.m., most guests had left the ballroom and driven home.