Steve Hilton on His Family’s Escape From Hungary, His Path to Silicon Valley, and Why He’s Running for Governor

What does it mean to be the son of refugees who fled communism, and how does that shape the way you see California? Steve Hilton grew up in London, the son of Hungarian refugees who left after the Soviet crackdown on the 1956 anti-communist revolution. He went on to advise a British prime minister, then moved to Silicon Valley, studied at Stanford, and later joined Fox News. Today he is running for governor of California.
In this episode of Bay Area Innovators, host Steve Ispas sits down with Hilton to talk about his family’s history, including the story of his stepfather, who he says ran for the Austrian border as a young man and climbed barbed-wire fences before ending up in a refugee camp. They also discuss his move to the United States, his views on COVID-19, the issue of homelessness, and the experiences that shaped the perspective he is bringing to his campaign.
We also reached out to Hilton’s opponent, Xavier Becerra, for an interview. As of publication, we have not received a response. The invitation remains open.