--- title: "GOP candidate Steve Hilton's ad sparks backlash from both sides" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/politics/gop-candidate-steve-hiltons-ad-sparks-backlash-from-both-sides" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/gop-candidate-steve-hiltons-ad-sparks-backlash-from-both-sides" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/politics/gop-candidate-steve-hiltons-ad-sparks-backlash-from-both-sides.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/gop-candidate-steve-hiltons-ad-sparks-backlash-from-both-sides" category: "Politics" area: "United States" published: "2026-10-05T02:45:40.777Z" source_reported: "2026-10-04T21:45:02.000Z" updated: "2026-10-05T02:45:40.777Z" trust_score: 50 critic_score: 60 hype_score: 45 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-10-05T04:00:19.272501+00:00" --- # GOP candidate Steve Hilton's ad sparks backlash from both sides *A campaign advertisement featuring two young women and an LGBTQ+ flag has drawn criticism from across the political spectrum.* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 50 of 100, higher is better. Central claims attributed to named bodies and specific figures are given with their origin stated. - Craft 60 of 100, higher is better. Anyone affected, opposed or responsible is quoted or given a right of reply. - Hype 45 of 100, lower is better. The headline promises more than the body delivers, with mild emphasis. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - GOP gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton released a campaign ad titled 'Just Try It, California'. - The ad features two young women in a bedroom setting with an LGBTQ+ flag visible. - The advertisement has drawn criticism from both Republican and Democratic political figures. - A UC Berkeley poll shows Xavier Becerra leading Steve Hilton 58% to 33%. GOP gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton released a campaign advertisement titled 'Just Try It, California'. The ad depicts two young women in a bedroom setting, with an LGBTQ+ flag displayed in the background. The scenario involves one woman encouraging the other to try something new, which is revealed to be marking a mail-in ballot for Hilton. The advertisement has generated criticism from political figures on both sides of the aisle. Michael Gates, a Republican candidate for attorney general, denounced the ad's use of young women as a political tool. Sonja Shaw, a candidate for state superintendent of public instruction, described the ad as 'creepy, weird, disturbing garbage.' Representative Robert Garcia, a California Democrat, called the ad 'bizarre and desperate.' ## Disagreement on ad's intent Steve Hilton defended the ad in an interview with the Los Angeles Times, stating, 'We’re just saying, you know, just try it. It’s a provocative and humorous way of making a point, right? Which often the best communication does.' The Los Angeles Times also reported that a spokesman for Hilton's opponent, Xavier Becerra, suggested the video captured Hilton’s values, telling the paper, 'MAGA is melting down over Steve Hilton’s creepy ad because they’re finally seeing him for the sellout he really is.' ## What the coverage left out None of the left-rated digests mention the UC Berkeley poll showing Xavier Becerra leading Steve Hilton 58% to 33%. The right-rated digest does not mention the criticism from Democratic figures or the ad's specific content beyond the 'sexualization of young people'. ## Who covered it Shares of the 7 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 57% (4) - Centre: 29% (2) - Right: 14% (1) 0 of 7 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-10-05T04:00:19.272501+00:00. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 8 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-10-05T04:45:15.170Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left - Left-rated reports from HuffPost, The Seattle Times, Joe.My.God., and the Los Angeles Times focused on the criticism the ad received, particularly from within the Republican party. HuffPost highlighted the ad's 'risqué' nature and the backlash from 'both sides of the aisle.' Joe.My.God. used the headline 'MAGA Rages Over Republican CA Gov Candidate’s “Lesbian Lovers” Ad Titled “Just Try It, California”'. The Los Angeles Times reported the ad was 'provocative, sexually suggestive' and 'condemned by political allies on the right.' All left-rated reports mentioned the LGBTQ+ flag in the ad and the criticism from figures like Sonja Shaw and Robert Garcia. ### Centre - Centre-rated reports from Newsweek and Political Wire highlighted the criticism of the ad from fellow Republicans and its provocative nature. Newsweek noted the ad was 'sexually suggestive and provocative' and detailed the backlash from Michael Gates and Sonja Shaw. Political Wire also described the ad as 'provocative, sexually suggestive' and mentioned condemnation from Republican allies. Both centre-rated reports included Steve Hilton's defence of the ad, quoting him saying it was 'a provocative and humorous way of making a point.' ### Right - The right-rated report from the OC Register focused on Michael Gates's criticism of the ad, using the headline 'Golden Ticket in ruins after Gates blasts Hilton for ‘sexualization of young people’'. The digest stated that Gates 'emphatically denounce[d] the use of young women as a political tool' and that 'California families deserve better.' The digest also included a comment: 'I say again: no wonder California is a one-party state.' **Provisional coverage gap:** right. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - high: 5 - unknown: 1 - veryHigh: 1 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [The Seattle Times](https://seattletimes.com/nation-world/provocative-sexually-suggestive-ad-by-hilton-campaign-condemned-by-political-allies-on-the-right) — Candidate for California governor's sexually suggestive ad draws condemnation - [Joe.My.God.](https://joemygod.com/2026/10/maga-rages-over-republican-ca-gov-candidates-lesbian-lovers-ad-titled-just-try-it-california-video) — MAGA Rages Over Republican CA Gov Candidate’s “Lesbian Lovers” Ad Titled “Just Try It, California” - [HuffPost](https://huffpost.com/entry/california-republican-steve-hilton-campaign-ad-backlash_n_6ac27205e4b0bc90e3ff9493) — Republican's Risqué Campaign Ad Riling Up Both Sides Of The Aisle - [Newsweek](https://newsweek.com/steve-hiltons-chances-as-he-faces-republican-backlash-over-new-ad-12522090) — Steve Hilton’s Chances As He Faces Republican Backlash Over New Ad - [Political Wire](https://politicalwire.com/2026/10/03/sexually-suggestive-ad-by-hilton-campaign-condemned) — Sexually Suggestive Ad by Hilton Campaign Condemned - [Los Angeles Times](https://latimes.com/california/story/2026-10-03/provocative-sexually-suggestive-ad-by-hilton-campaign-condemned-by-political-allies-on-right) — Provocative, sexually suggestive ad by Hilton campaign condemned by political allies on the right - [OC Register](https://ocregister.com/2026/10/02/golden-ticket-in-ruins-after-gates-blasts-hilton-for-sexualization-of-young-people) — Golden Ticket in ruins after Gates blasts Hilton for ‘sexualization of young people’ ## Questions **What is the ad about?** The ad, titled 'Just Try It, California,' features two young women in a bedroom setting with an LGBTQ+ flag visible. One woman encourages the other to try marking a mail-in ballot for GOP candidate Steve Hilton. **Who has criticised the ad?** The ad has drawn criticism from both Republican figures, such as Michael Gates and Sonja Shaw, and Democratic figures, including Rep. Robert Garcia. Steve Hilton defended the ad as provocative and humorous. **What do the polls show?** A UC Berkeley poll indicates that Xavier Becerra is leading Steve Hilton in the gubernatorial race with 58% of the vote compared to Hilton's 33%. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/politics/gop-candidate-steve-hiltons-ad-sparks-backlash-from-both-sides. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "GOP candidate Steve Hilton's ad sparks backlash from both sides", https://mediabias.news/politics/gop-candidate-steve-hiltons-ad-sparks-backlash-from-both-sides