Full Breakdown
Steve Hilton’s “Just Try It” Ad Sparks Backlash in California Gubernatorial Race
By Drooid · · How we work
The Controversial Ad
Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton released a one-minute commercial titled “Just Try It, California.” The spot depicts two young women in a dim bedroom; one, wearing a “RESIST” T-shirt, hesitates before a ballot, while her friend encourages her to “just try it.” The scene ends with the woman marking Hilton on her mail-in ballot. Critics describe the ad’s sexual overtones and LGBTQ+ imagery as provocative.
GOP and Democratic Reactions
The ad provoked condemnation from several California Republicans. Michael Gates, the Republican candidate for attorney general, denounced the “sexualization of young people” on X, asserting that “California families deserve better.”
Democratic officials also weighed in. Rep. Robert Garcia, a Democrat from Long Beach and member of the Congressional Equality Caucus, told the *Los Angeles Times* the ad was “bizarre and desperate.” Jonathan Underland, a spokesman for Hilton’s opponent Xavier Becerra, echoed that sentiment, saying the ad revealed Hilton as a “sellout” abandoning his values.
Hilton’s Response
Hilton addressed the controversy in a nearly five-minute video posted to social media, describing the overall reaction as “overwhelmingly” positive. He apologized to those offended, asked for “grace and understanding,” and promised to pursue policies “you love” while acknowledging some initiatives may be less popular. He framed the ad as an invitation for Californians to “try something new.”
Poll Landscape
A recent poll conducted by the University of California, Berkeley shows the gubernatorial race split along party lines, with Xavier Becerra leading unaffiliated voters by 26 points. Overall, the poll places Becerra at 58 % and Hilton at 33 %.
Verbatim Quotes
- “This is a bizarre and desperate ad from a person who has attacked the LGBTQ+ community and stands with Donald Trump.” — Jonathan Underland, a spokesman for Hilton’s gubernatorial opponent Xavier Becerra — Jonathan Underland, a spokesman for Hilton’s gubernatorial opponent Xavier Becerra