Trump Claims Call to U.S. Attorney Helped Republican Advance in California Gubernatorial Primary

Former President Donald Trump said he phoned a California U.S. attorney after the June 2 top-two primary, demanded a fraud review, and claimed the call caused Republican Steve Hilton to surge and ultimately win the runoff slot. He later reiterated the allegation during a meeting in the Oval Office.

Rolling Stone

California’s primary left Democrat Xavier Becerra with 28 % and Republican Steve Hilton with 25 % of the vote, advancing them to the Nov. 3 general election. The state has a Democratic trifecta and has not elected a Republican governor since 2006. The top-two primary is one of 36 gubernatorial contests nationwide in the 2026 election cycle.

Ballotpedia

The claim involves former President Donald Trump, Republican candidate Steve Hilton, Democratic candidate Xavier Becerra, and U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli, who leads the Central District of California. The four U.S. attorney offices in Northern, Central, Eastern and Southern districts oversee federal prosecutions in the state.

New York Times

• June 2, 2026 – Top-two primary held.

Ballotpedia

• June 5, 2026 – U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli announced “multiple election fraud investigations.”

New York Times

• June 24, 2026 – Trump repeated his claim at a Mack Trucks plant in Pennsylvania and in the Oval Office.

Rolling Stone

Primary totals were Becerra 28 % and Hilton 25 %; California has four federal districts, each with its own U.S. attorney. No fraud evidence has been presented.

Ballotpedia

The four California U.S. attorney offices declined comment on Trump’s alleged call and did not respond to media requests for comment. Essayli’s June 5 statement confirmed ongoing fraud investigations but gave no details linking them to the gubernatorial primary.

New York Times

Legal analysts note no mechanism exists for a federal prosecutor to alter a state primary count, and Democratic observers call the claim unsubstantiated and potentially aimed at delegitimizing the election. The allegation mirrors Trump’s earlier phone pressure on Georgia officials during the 2020 election.

Rolling Stone

Trump did not name the attorney; Rolling Stone cites Essayli as the Los Angeles U.S. attorney, but no record confirms a call. The scope of the announced fraud investigations remains undefined.

Rolling Stone

• “Steve Hilton, who is running for governor. He was up in front, just about leading. No problem. Then all of a sudden, four, five days after the election is over, they said, ‘Steve Hilton is starting to lose votes.’ I said, ‘Here we go again.’ I called up the very powerful, very good U.S. attorney in California and I said, ‘Do me a favor. Take a look. They are trying to steal that election.’” — Donald Trump, former President

New York Times

• “an hour after the call, ‘Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Hilton has won.’ Had I not made that call, Steve Hilton would right now be watching the election from home.” — Donald Trump, former President

New York Times

• “multiple election fraud investigations.” — Bill Essayli, U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California

New York Times

The Nov. 3 general election will decide whether Becerra or Hilton becomes governor. Federal prosecutors have not announced any further action related to the primary.

Ballotpedia