Hilton Targets Becerra in Pratt Instagram Post
Republican governor candidate Steve Hilton replied to actor Chris Pratt's election day post, urging voters not to back Democrat Xavier Becerra.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Celebrities
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Actor Chris Pratt posted on Instagram on election day urging his 43 million followers to vote in the mid-term elections, sharing a photo of himself with an "I voted" sticker. Republican California governor candidate Steve Hilton replied that people shouldn't vote for Democrat Xavier Becerra.
Why it matters
The exchange shows how a celebrity's get-out-the-vote message can become a platform for candidates in the California governor race. Commenters also debated Pratt's political views, which he has never publicly stated.
Pratt's Instagram account has 43 million followers, the audience his election day post reached. Trump lost California by 20 percentage points in 2024, a figure that frames the state's political backdrop. The extraction does not provide engagement totals for the post.
The players
Chris Pratt
Chris Pratt is an actor whose Instagram account has 43 million followers, and he has never publicly claimed a political affiliation.
Steve Hilton
Steve Hilton is the Republican candidate for California governor and a former Fox News host.
Xavier Becerra
Xavier Becerra is a Democrat running for California governor and a former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary.
The details
On election day, Pratt shared a photo of himself in a black baseball hat with an "I voted" sticker, captioned as "like a gold star, but patriotic." Hilton, who follows Pratt on Instagram, replied that voters shouldn't back Becerra, citing Becerra's recent comments that a vehicle-miles-traveled tax is among proposals to fund transportation infrastructure.
Timeline
Last year: Pratt defended Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Bill Maher's podcast.
November 3, 2026: Pratt posted his election day message and Hilton replied.
Tuesday: Mid-term elections were held, including the California governor race.
Industry Dynamics
Celebrity political posts increasingly become launch pads for candidate messaging, as seen when Hilton used Pratt's election day post to target Becerra's transportation funding stance. The move mirrors how campaigns in California's governor race treat high-follower accounts as free amplification channels.
Followers who want to track the California governor race can check candidate statements directly on Instagram and through official campaign channels. Pratt's post itself is a public voter-turnout message that anyone can view on his account.
The takeaway
Celebrity posts can carry a candidate's message to large audiences, so readers should weigh who is speaking and why when they see political content from public figures. Checking candidate positions directly helps separate a star's voice from a campaign's talking points.
Further reading
For more on how stars shape political conversations, see Celebrities coverage on Wisevoter.
Source note: This article includes information reported by East Bay Times.
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