Steve Hilton released a fanfic-style campaign ad titled "Just try it, California," featuring two young women and ending with one guiding the other to fill a ballot for Hilton. Hilton insists the spot was made by a human director, not AI, and has highlighted his "Bring Hollywood Home" plan. The ad went viral and drew mixed responses—praise from some, criticism and discomfort from others—while reigniting debate over creative tactics in political advertising.
Steve Hilton’s 'Lesbian Fanfic' Campaign Ad Goes Viral — He Says It’s Not AI
Steve Hilton's political ad "Just try it, California" (Credit: Steve Hilton/X)
Steve Hilton, the Republican candidate in the California governor’s race, drew widespread attention with a short, fanfic-styled campaign commercial titled "Just try it, California." The spot centers on two young women: one appears nervous about trying something new, while the other gently encourages her and ultimately helps her mark a ballot for Hilton.
The exchange includes lines such as "I've never done anything like this before. What if my dad finds out?" and "Just try it. Look, give me your hand. Close your eyes, and I'll do all the work." After a brief off-screen moment, the woman with pink hair reveals a ballot and guides her friend to fill in a bubble for Hilton.
Production Claims and Context
Because of its polished production and intimate framing, the ad prompted immediate comparisons to other unconventional political creative from earlier in the year, including viral videos by former Los Angeles mayoral candidate Spencer Pratt. Observers also speculated about AI involvement; Hilton pushed back, saying the spot was "produced by a great and talented director" and pointing critics to his "Bring Hollywood Home" plan for further context. He did not name the director.
Hilton currently lags behind Democratic candidate Xavier Becerra by roughly 22 percentage points in the RealClearPolitics polling average and is not generally seen as a competitive frontrunner in the race.
Reactions
The commercial circulated quickly online and produced mixed reactions. Spencer Pratt praised the spot as "brilliant," and Fox News anchor John Roberts said it "boldly go[es] where no political ad has gone before." Other viewers reacted negatively: some called it "creepy," while others suggested the ad might be more effective as a general marketing piece than a conventional campaign message.
"Awful political ad. But an absolutely incredible ad for literally anything else. You should go into marketing," one social media user wrote.
The ad has renewed debate about creative boundaries in political advertising: whether provocative, narrative-driven spots can persuade voters or are aimed primarily at generating online buzz. Regardless of intent, Hilton’s commercial has amplified conversation about how campaigns use storytelling to reach specific demographics and attract attention in a crowded media environment.
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