Steve Hilton says he wants Spencer Pratt on his side as he heads into a tough California governor’s race, betting that Pratt’s media savvy and outsider energy can amplify a Republican push in a state dominated by Democrats.

Spencer Pratt stepped out of the Los Angeles mayoral contest, but his profile and online following haven’t vanished. Steve Hilton, the Republican who is set to advance to the general election in November, told interviewers he’d welcome Pratt onto the campaign trail to help reach voters directly. That kind of unconventional partnership is exactly the sort of shakeup Republicans hope can cut through California’s entrenched political habits.

Hilton has said repeatedly that he wants to broaden the Republican coalition in California, and he views allies with fresh tactics as part of that plan. Pratt ran a highly visible, unorthodox mayoral operation that leaned into social platforms and attention-getting creative work. Hilton and other Republican strategists see those skills as complementary to traditional ground games, potentially delivering earned media and energizing voters who often skip midterm and off-cycle races.

“Steve, would you consider having Spencer Pratt go around the state and campaign with you or for you?” Fox News’ Laura Ingraham asked.

https://x.com/IngrahamAngle/status/2064511466925871326

“One hundred percent,” Hilton replied. “He made such an incredible impact. It’s an absolute travesty that Los Angeles, as a city, won’t have the same choice that the whole state will have. He laid out incredible plans. Of course, everyone talks about his amazing campaign ads, and that’s true, but they forget that he had incredibly strong substantive policies, especially on homelessness, which I said at the time, that’s exactly what we need, not just in L.A., but statewide.”

“One hundred percent. I’d love that. He represents the kind of energy we need,” Hilton added.

Those comments came as Democrats quickly rallied behind their nominee, Xavier Becerra, who has secured endorsements from Governor Gavin Newsom and former Vice President Kamala Harris. For Republicans, the early unity on the left only raises the stakes: the Hilton campaign needs to find ways to punch above its weight and force voters to consider change. That is why figures like Pratt, who draw attention and can frame policy through viral content, matter to the team behind Hilton.

Watching the mechanics of the race, Republicans point to a simple problem: California is tough turf for challengers, and it will take more than polite messaging to move the needle. The state remains one of the deepest blue in the country, and Democratic infrastructure is strong, well-funded, and experienced at turning out base voters. Still, the Hilton camp argues that a combination of street-level policy offers and attention-grabbing outreach can create openings where conventional campaigns see none.

Pratt brings a blended skill set: an instinct for what plays on social platforms and a willingness to run rough, attention-first creative. That approach is controversial, and it isn’t a silver bullet, but it does force debate onto terms that traditional political teams sometimes miss. From a Republican perspective, leveraging that energy makes sense—especially when the aim is to cut through a media landscape that often rewards the status quo and sidelines insurgent ideas.

One policy area Hilton specifically mentioned was homelessness, a crisis that voters across party lines say they care about. By stressing concrete, enforceable solutions and coupling them with vivid messaging, Republicans hope to reframe the conversation in a way that highlights differences with the Democratic approach. Whether that tactic sways enough voters statewide is uncertain, but it is the strategy the campaign appears willing to test.

Practical limits remain. Resource gaps, the sheer size of California’s electorate, and entrenched partisan loyalties make this an uphill fight by any measure. Still, the Hilton team is betting that a louder, more creative campaign can alter perceptions, stir turnout among skeptical voters, and make the race competitive enough to matter. For a Republican campaign in California, taking chances on new collaborators and new tactics is not just an option—it may be the only realistic route to relevance in November.