I walked my first precinct in 1960. In all these years, I have never seen a former leader of one Party running for major office, after changing Parties, running for major office in their new Party.
Gloria Romero was the Democrat State Senate Majority. She was a statewide Democrat leader. Her main issue was school choice—and from that, she became disenchanted with the Democrat Party. In 2024 she endorsed Trump for President and started touring the State talking about how the GOP can engagement and convert the Hispanic community.
Now, in conjunction with Steve Hilton, potential (have to use that word) GOP candidate for Governor will work as a Team to expand the GOP)
The 2026 elections, thanks to Trump and Newsom, we can win statewide office in California. The election is on.
(full disclosure: I am supporting both Hilton and Romero—both have become good friends)
FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: NEW FACES OF GOP—Gloria Romero for Lt. Governor —
Politico, California Playbook, 2/3/25 https://www.politico.com/newsletters/californiaplaybook
Former California Senate Majority Leader Gloria Romero, who last fall switched her party registration from Democrat to Republican and pledged support for Trump, is considering a run for lieutenant governor in 2026, Playbook has learned.
But it wouldn’t be any old campaign. Two plugged-in California Republicans familiar with Romero’s thinking say she would campaign as part of a GOP ticket with Steve Hilton, the former Fox News host and policy adviser to British Prime Minister David Cameron, who is weighing a gubernatorial campaign when Newsom is termed out in 2026.
California’s lieutenant governor, largely a ministerial role, is elected independently by voters. But Romero running on a ticket — or effectively a slate — with Hilton would allow both to maximize their resources and cover more ground with their message.
POLITICO reached out to Hilton to get his thoughts on Romero’s consideration (she couldn’t immediately be reached for comment late Sunday). Hilton, who appeared alongside Romero last fall in Sacramento when she formally switched parties, told Playbook he’s known her for years, calling the former state senator a “good friend” and “great partner” to his policy-focused organization Golden Together. Hilton also confirmed that the talks are, indeed, happening.
“As I look at this very serious decision about whether to run, it’s becoming more and more apparent that the normal way Republicans have run for this office hasn’t worked and that we need something fresh and different,” Hilton said.
“While Gloria has deep experience of Sacramento she also feels, like I do, that we need a really big challenge to the status quo. So I’ve asked her to consider working on this together, and I’m thrilled that she’s open to doing that.” — Christopher Cadelago
