# GOP candidate pledges to appoint Democrat to Senate

> Steve Hilton says he'd honor California voters by naming a Democrat if a Senate seat opens.
- Title: GOP candidate pledges to appoint Democrat to Senate | Shortify
- Summary: Steve Hilton says he'd honor California voters by naming a Democrat if a Senate seat opens. A Republican gubernatorial candidate is committing to respecting…
- Keywords: steve hilton, california governor, 2026 election, senate appointment, democrat, republican, alex padilla, adam schiff, xavier becerra, pod save america, donald trump, news
- Source: California Post — https://nypost.com/2026/09/15/us-news/steve-hilton-says-hed-appoint-democrat-to-senate-seat-if-elected-california-governor
- Published: 2026-09-16T02:09:14+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: steve hilton, california governor, 2026 election, senate appointment, democrat, republican, alex padilla, adam schiff, xavier becerra, pod save america, donald trump, news
## GOP candidate makes Senate pledge
Steve Hilton, the Republican running for California governor, says he would appoint a Democrat to fill a US Senate vacancy if elected.
## The hypothetical scenario
Host Jon Lovett asked Hilton on Pod Save America what he'd do if either Senator Alex Padilla or Senator Adam Schiff left office.
## Honoring the voters' choice
Hilton said California voters elected both senators, so he'd respect that by appointing a Democrat. "I just think you've got to honor the vote that people took," he explained.

> I just think you've got to honor the vote that people took.
## Hilton's political position
Hilton is running against Democrat Xavier Becerra in November's gubernatorial election and has received President Donald Trump's endorsement.
## California's appointment history
While the Senate scenario is hypothetical, California governors have previously used their appointment power to fill Senate vacancies.
## Key takeaway

A Republican gubernatorial candidate is committing to respecting voter intent by appointing a Democrat to fill any Senate vacancy.