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Republican candidate Steve Hilton has faced criticism from fellow party members over a provocative campaign ad featuring sexual innuendos. The video, titled "Just Try It, California," shows two young women in suggestive dialogue about filling out a ballot for Hilton. Republican nominees Sonja Shaw and Michael Gates have condemned the ad as inappropriate, with Shaw calling it "creepy" and crossing ethical boundaries. Meanwhile, polls show Hilton trailing significantly behind his Democratic opponent Xavier Becerra in the race for California governor.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-05,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Steve Hilton, a Republican candidate running for governor in California, released an advertisement titled "Just Try It, California" on October 26, which features two AI-generated young women in a suggestive exchange implying sexual activity, leading to one urging the other to vote for him. The ad has drawn significant criticism from fellow Republicans and Democrats alike. Michael Gates, another Republican candidate running for attorney general, condemned the ad, stating that it uses young women as political tools and denounces the content as inappropriate. Despite the controversy, Hilton argues the advertisement aims to reach younger voters in California who are open to change regardless of party affiliation. The ad has garnered millions of views online but has faced backlash from various quarters, with some calling it "creepy" and "disturbing." As a result, Hilton is facing criticism from both his own party and Democrats as he trails Xavier Becerra, the frontrunner in the polls for the Democratic nomination.
Written for “Hilton Campaign Ad Controversy” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 2 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The model judged this article politically coded and scored it -0.45, but 1 quote(s) could not be found in the article and the other 3 are attributed speech rather than the article's own narration, so the score is not published.
Written under an earlier scoring contract, which gave a paragraph
rather than checkable quotes. Re-analysing this article replaces it.
Leaning score withheld for article 58283: no verified evidence · logged 2026-10-05
Steve Hilton, the Republican candidate for California governor, is receiving heavy criticism from members of his own party over a controversial, sexual innuendo-filled campaign ad that’s been described as “creepy”.
asserted
that → receive → ad
The video entitled “Just Try It, California” was released last week and depicts two young women with brightly colored hair, sitting on a bed in front of a pride flag in low lighting.
asserted
video → entitle → lighting
One nervously says “I can’t believe I’m doing this”, while another strokes her hair and coaxes “don’t be nervous, it’s not that bad” before guiding her to fill out a ballot for Hilton and aggressively commanding “lick it”.
asserted
it → say → it
The controversy comes as Hilton, a British former political adviser to David Cameron and Fox News host, is fighting to advance his longshot bid against Xavier Becerra, the former health secretary.
asserted
Hilton → come → Becerra
With just a few weeks to go before the November midterms elections, Hilton is trailing in the polls.
asserted
Hilton → go → polls
Sonja Shaw, the Republican nominee for California superintendent of public instruction, called the new campaign ad “creepy, weird, disturbing garbage”.
asserted
Shaw → call → ad
“This is a clear example of exactly why good people are walking away from the Republican Party.
asserted
people → walk → Party
As a mother and someone who has fought to protect the innocence of children, this crosses a line.
asserted
this → fight → line
We have lost our way,” she wrote on social media.
asserted
she → lose → media
Michael Gates, the party’s nominee for state attorney general, also condemned the advertisement, stating that he “emphatically [denounced] the use of young women as a political tool”.
asserted
he → condemn → tool
Hilton faces tough odds in the deep blue state, where voters haven’t elected a Republican to lead since 2004.
asserted
voters → face → 2004
Polls have consistently shown Becerra with a significant lead over Hilton.
asserted
Polls → show → Hilton
Hilton is trying to rally California’s Republicans while converting Democrats and independents frustrated with the ever increasing cost of living in California.
asserted
Hilton → try → California
In a video posted shortly after the ad was launched, Hilton said it had largely been positively received but that he recognized that people were offended, and that was not his campaign’s intention.
asserted
that → post → video
“We were trying to make a point in a provocative way, in satirical way,” he said.
asserted
he → try → way
“It grieves me that you’ve been upset by this.
asserted
you → grieve → this
But I also want to ask you to understand what we are doing, why we’re doing it and to ask for some grace as well as understanding as we fight this campaign.”
asserted
we → want → campaign
Becerra was quick to jump on the controversy, posting an article about his own support for Medicare for All with a line directed at his rival: “Steve, just try it!”
asserted
Becerra → jump → it
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