Steve Hilton gives special shoutout to Arnold Schwarzenegger with flashy new jacket

California gubernatorial frontrunner Steve Hilton gave a shoutout to former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger while sporting a flashy jacket.

The Republican, who has secured nearly 28% of the vote in the early returns, wore a black suit featuring a distinctive inner lining with the bright colors of the American flag on one side and the California state flag on the other.

“I know that some of you may be watching and saying, ‘Who is this guy with a funny accent?’ Thinks he can be governor of California.

“Well, you know, there was actually an immigrant who was governor of California,” Hilton told a cheering crowd after taking the stage and all but claiming victory as one of the top two vote-getters in the primary, advancing to the general election.

Hilton was speaking at his campaign watch party Tuesday night in Huntington Beach — a Republican stronghold — as hundreds of supporters gathered to watch the results come in.

Early returns showed Xavier Becerra emerging as the leading Democratic candidate and likely to advance to the general election, placing second behind Hilton, while Tom Steyer trailed in third.

Throughout the evening, Hilton and his supporters echoed the campaign’s central message: “Change is coming.”

“Not that long ago, and I remember, I remember when I became an American citizen, that certain governor, you may remember, he said congratulations. He made a very nice video,” Hilton told the crowd about Schwarzenegger, adding that the former governor told him, “You’ve got the wrong jacket.”

But as Hilton moved closer to securing a spot in the governor’s race, he opened his jacket to reveal the American and California flag lining, pointed toward the camera and said, “Arnold, that was for you.”

The former Republican governor has not issued any public endorsements in the crowded primary race for governor.

The Post has reached out to Schwarzenegger’s office for comment.

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