Republican Steve Hilton is bringing artificial intelligence warfare to the California governor’s race, releasing a cinematic campaign ad Thursday that portrays Gov. Gavin Newsom, former Vice President Kamala Harris and the state’s Democratic establishment as operating a giant political “machine” that spits out Xavier Becerra as the state’s next governor.
The spot was produced by Charles Curran — the brainchild behind a viral “Pratt-Man” video featuring former reality TV personality Spencer Pratt during his unsuccessful campaign for Los Angeles mayor.
The roughly two-minute Hilton spot — titled “Machine” — blends AI-generated animation with live campaign footage to depict California’s Democratic leadership manufacturing Becerra as Newsom’s successor while ordinary Californians struggle with soaring taxes, high gas prices and homelessness.
“This ad is showing what this is all about — the people against the corrupt machine in Sacramento,” Hilton told The California Post.
It comes just a day after his call for support from anti-Donald Trump voters.
“Our government has been hijacked by a group of special interests and regular Californians have been losing out.”
The ad opens with a narrator declaring, “As long as the machine leaves California, nothing will ever change,” before cutting to a woman cradling a baby who says, “I don’t know if we can continue living here.”
It then shifts to an AI-generated boardroom where animated versions of Newsom, Harris and political fat cats gather around a table. Figures representing “nonprofits,” “Chamber of Commerce” and “government unions” sit nearby as Newsom tells the group, “OK, we got to figure out this governor’s thing. I’d do it forever, but it’s my turn to be president.”
“Bring in the machine,” Newsom says. The machine flashes the name Becerra.
“The Biden guy who lost all those kids,” Newsom says.
“That can’t be right. Run it again,” Harris replies.
Newsom then describes it as “the thing we created to make sure nothing ever changes.” he adds, “As long as you submit to the machine, you don’t have to do anything.”
Becerra, realizing the task at hand, smiles and says: “Nothing. I can do that.”
The ad later depicts Becerra being shouted down by an angry crowd before being pelted with an object, then pivoting to Hilton speaking before cheering supporters.
“Who else is tired of the highest taxes in the country, the highest gas prices in the country, the worst homelessness in the country?” Hilton asks. “This is our state, not the machines. That’s what we’re fighting for!”
In the closing sequence, protesters storm what appears to be the Capitol rotunda, taking on robots in suits, before a firefighter tosses Hilton a California flag, which he plants into the front of the giant machine.
“Time to take California back!” Hilton shouts.
The ad ends back inside the fictional boardroom, where Harris turns to Newsom and asks, “Can we get Swalwell back?” a reference to disgraced former gubernatorial candidate, California’s former Congressman Eric Swalwell, who is accused of rape, sexual assault and other misconduct.
Hilton said early reaction to the video has been overwhelmingly positive.
“I’m getting texts from people who say they love it,” he said. “It’s the kind of energy we need.”
The commercial also marks Hilton’s embrace of the viral AI-generated political videos that have become an increasingly visible feature of California campaigns.
“Of course Steve is playing to his Trump-loving MAGA base — the only folks who can stand to watch an ad with him in it,” said Jonathan Underland, Becerra’s spokesperson.
“Force-feeding voters AI slop didn’t play out well for Spencer, and it won’t work for Steve,“ he added.
Unlike those videos, Hilton said, the new ad was produced directly for his campaign.
With Newsom barred by term limits from seeking another term, the race will determine who leads California beginning next year.
Hilton said voters should expect more unconventional AI-enhanced campaign ads.
“This is just the first,” he said. “A lot more to come.”
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