OLD BLUE GOVERNOR OF CALIFORNIA?

[Foureyes]

I see that Steve Hilton, Old Blue, is 'considering running for Governor of California.' My researches suggest that, if successful, he would be the first Old Blue to lead a US state, but I could be mistaken?
David

[MrEd]

Mr Hilton is certainly an eminent OB, perhaps the pre-eminent one of his generation, his achievements including helping Cameron to squeak past Gordon Brown into Downing Street and the rest is history, including Brexit, the classic mistake that Cameron's late brother, a QC, would never have made 'Don't ask a question unless you know the answer' being the first rule of cross-examination.

However, if he is running for the Republicans as the press seem to hint, then he has a major problem, the so-called 'Jungle Primary' system of California (and some other States). This operates by having a primary election to select the winner and if no one gets over the 50% mark, the top two candidates go forward to a 'run-off', even if they are both (in CA) Democrats (as is often the case). So you can have races where you ultimately choose between two candidates of the same party. And in CA it may well be that the next Gubernatorial election turns out to be a run between two Donkeys rather than a Donkey and an Elephant.

[Foureyes]

Who can predict what will happen in California? One of their recent governors was born in Austria, brought up in England and was known more for his muscles than his intellect, so Hilton stands a good chance.
David

[rockfreak]

The boy Hilto broke a proud record of CH having produced mainly Labour political figures. He was Cameron's advisor in the coalition government and was once described by the PM as "our little Hungarian fascist". He fell out of favour with Cameron and was satirised in Private Eye in one of those skits whereby the current PM is head of a school. In Cameron's case of course it was a posh boarding school where Cameron's portentous homily to the official school newsletter was always run in full but deputy headmaster Mr Clegg's effort was always cut short or held over until next week. Mr Osborne the Bursar was always struggling with the school finances while Mr Johnson was always getting ticked off for being seen lurking in the vicinity of the Sixth Form girls' changing rooms. When Hilto left Cameron observed that he was always coming to the headmaster's meetings barefoot and would sit there gazing out at the blue sky. In the end, said Cameron, he turned out to be a rather unreliable sort.
He later went on to contribute to Sky News in America and will doubtless f*ck things up in California. At which point the CH Unofficial website will tactfully drop all mention of him.

[mitchfloyd]

Who can predict what will happen in California? One of their recent governors was born in Austria, brought up in England and was known more for his muscles than his intellect, so Hilton stands a good chance.
David

I also think Hilton has a better chance with his track record and experience. Let's see.

[Otter]

He is officially running for GovCal.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/202 ... a-governor

[MrEd]

I repeat, he will not even be on the ballot for Governor, the choice will be between two Democratic Party candidates, due to the Jungle Primary system. This is at best a stepping-stone.

And David Cameron's greatest achievement was to lose a referendum, thinking that there was only one answer. His late brother, an eminent QC, could have told him the old trial lawyer's adage: Never ask a question unless you know the answer.

[Foureyes]

Intesting full-page interview with Steve Hilton in Saturday's Daily Telegraph (10 May 2025, page 23).
Even manages to mention Housie once, but only in passing - "a school for children from disadvantaged backgrounds" (quote).
David

[AStaverton]

I have a cousin living in California who is a registered Republican. On telling her about Steve Hilton’s candidature, she replied,

“Interesting about Steve Hilton. Honestly I had not really heard anything about him running for California Governor but do remember seeing him on Fox News. … … … The list of candidates will probably be very large, and truthfully at this point, almost anyone could do a better job that Gov.
Newsom.” (Dem)

So our hopes should not be too high as the election approaches.