The California Republican Party declined to endorse a candidate in the 2026 gubernatorial race during its convention in San Diego on Sunday, defying President Donald Trump's recent backing of Steve Hilton.

In a vote among 1,101 delegates, Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco received 49% of the support, while Hilton garnered 44%. An additional 7% voted for no endorsement. Party rules require 60% to secure the formal nod, a threshold neither candidate cleared. Bianco supporters chanted in the hall before the tally, reflecting strong grassroots enthusiasm for the sheriff.

The decision came one week after Trump endorsed Hilton, a former Fox News host and ex-adviser to British Prime Minister David Cameron, in a Truth Social post. Trump praised Hilton as someone who could "turn around" a California that has "gone to hell." Hilton highlighted the president's support during the convention, selling shirts emblazoned with the endorsement message and calling Trump "the leader of our party who knows how to pick a winner."

Bianco, a Trump loyalist who launched his campaign as a tough-on-crime candidate, emphasized his backing from state legislators, law enforcement groups, and the California Republican Assembly. He appeared in his sheriff's uniform, trailed by flag-bearers proclaiming "Only The Sheriff Can Save Us Now." His reception drew a larger crowd than Hilton's. After the vote, Bianco celebrated on social media, calling himself the top vote-getter and thanking delegates for seeing his vision to "make [California] great again."

The race to replace term-limited Gov. Gavin Newsom features California's top-two primary system, where the top two vote-getters advance to November regardless of party. With over a dozen Democrats in the field splitting their vote, recent polls show Republicans Hilton and Bianco leading the pack. GOP strategists hoped to send two Republicans to the general election, a path that Trump's endorsement threatened by consolidating conservative support behind Hilton.

Shawn Steel, an RNC member and former state party chairman, welcomed the no-endorsement outcome. "Republicans have figured it out," he said. "What we really want after June is a real Bianco versus Hilton race. Then we can get really excited." Jon Fleischman, ex-executive director of the state GOP, noted Hilton benefits most from Trump's nod, which appeals directly to voters, while Bianco sought the party's stamp of approval.

The convention highlighted tensions within the party. One attendee urged leaders to bend rules and endorse both candidates, but the idea was swiftly rejected. Supporters split along lines: Hilton backers cited his electability in November, while Bianco fans praised his law enforcement credentials and proposals like eliminating the state income tax.

No Democratic endorsement emerged from their February gathering, leaving the June primary wide open. Recent scandals, including allegations against leading Democrat Rep. Eric Swalwell, have further muddied the waters. Both GOP frontrunners continue campaigning aggressively ahead of the vote.