Three-time Masters champion and golf legend Phil Mickelson is diving headfirst into a critical governor’s race that could have massive implications for the Republican Party.
According to reports, Mickelson, an outspoken Republican, made a massive campaign donation to Steve Hilton, a Republican candidate for governor in California.
Hilton is seeking to become the state’s first Republican to win the state’s top political role in over 20 years.
Despite Lefty’s massive fortune, Mickelson has made few political campaign contributions until now.
According to the Federal Election Commission, at the federal level, Mickelson appears to have only made one other notable donation in 1994: a $700 gift to former U.S. Rep. J.D. Hayworth, R-Ariz.
State campaign finance records also indicate that Mickelson doesn’t appear to have donated to other candidates in California.
However, Hilton, an ex-businessman, author, podcaster and former TV host with Fox News, allegedly caught Mickelson’s attention — and wallet.
“Steve Hilton can/will save California,” Mickelson, who moved to Florida in 2020 after complaining about California’s high taxes, said in a X post earlier this month, reacting to promises from Hilton to end Democrat-led climate energy mandates.
Steve Hilton can/will save California
— Phil Mickelson (@PhilMickelson) March 7, 2026
Hilton said he appreciated Mickelson’s support and positioned the support of the famed golfer as part of broader momentum behind his candidacy.
“I’m incredibly honored to have Phil’s support, and we’ve had some great conversations about the future of California and how much we love this state and want to save it and make it a beautiful, spectacular place with the right leadership,” Hilton said.
“It’s time to clean [California] up and I’m building a really broad movement for change and I am very confident that we can win in November.”
Mickelson’s massive financial contribution to Hilton could have huge implications for California, which is on the verge of turning red and electing a Republican candidate for governor, according to new polling data.
Last month, it was reported that Republican candidates are polling at the top of California’s 2026 gubernatorial race, raising the alarming prospect for Democrats that they could be shut out of the November election entirely — leaving the nation’s most populous state deep blue state with a GOP governor for the first time in 15 years.
A February Emerson College Polling survey of 1,000 likely voters found Hilton leading the crowded field at 17 percent.
Meanwhile, Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, also a Republican, came in at 14 percent —tied with Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell of California, who also polled at 14 percent.
Former Rep. Katie Porter and billionaire Democrat Tom Steyer trailed at 10 and 9 percent, respectively. Twenty-one percent of likely voters said they remain undecided.
Under California’s top-two primary system, the two candidates with the most votes on June 2 — regardless of party — advance to the November general election. If Hilton and Bianco finish in the top two, Democrats would have no candidate on the November ballot, and California would be guaranteed to elect a Republican governor.
“It is mathematically possible that you could have two Republicans finishing one-two in the primary,” political analyst Matt Klink said. “That said, I believe the political brains in the Democratic Party will get involved and say we need to make sure we get one of our candidates into the runoff because he or she will likely win the general election.”
Hilton will face off against a crowd of other gubernatorial hopefuls in the June 2 California primary.
The top finalists will advance to a general election in November.