Steve Hilton Ad Draws Backlash

Steve Hilton’s campaign released a video called “Just Try It, California” that uses a sexually suggestive scene between two women to encourage voting for him. Hilton, the Republican candidate for California governor, is running against Democrat Xavier Becerra, described in the articles as the race’s front-runner. In the ad, one woman guides the other to mark Hilton on a mail ballot, then tells her to lick the envelope, with an LGBTQ+ flag visible behind them. Republican Michael Gates and Sonja Shaw condemned the ad, while Democratic Rep. Robert Garcia called it bizarre and desperate. Hilton said the ad showed voters want change despite disliking his party. The election is scheduled for November 3.