Geoff Palmer Donates to GOP Governor Hopeful Steve Hilton

Billionaire Los Angeles developer Geoff Palmer is betting on ex-Fox News host Steve Hilton for governor.

Palmer, one of Los Angeles’ most prolific multifamily developers — who was once called the city’s “worst developer” — donated $39,200, the maximum, to Hilton in April last year. The G.H. Palmer Associates founder, known for his Italian-style properties, has been a big backer of President Donald Trump. He donated millions to his campaigns and hosted fundraisers for him in L.A.

Palmer wasn’t Hilton’s only Southern California real estate donor either last year. Frank Suryan Jr., chairman and chief executive of Lyon Living, donated $39,200 in December and Steven Craig of Craig Realty Group gave the same amount in May. The two commercial real estate companies are Newport Beach-based. Hilton’s old boss, Rupert Murdoch, whose family media empire includes Fox News, gave $39,200.

Representatives for Palmer, Suryan and Craig did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Hilton, a Republican candidate for governor of very-blue California, raked in more campaign cash than almost any other hopeful in the second half of last year, according to a review of documents recently filed with the secretary of state’s office. Hilton raised $4.2 million between July and December last year — and a total of $5.7 million the entire year.

Liberal billionaire Tom Steyer outpaced Hilton, but the bulk of his $28.9 million haul was self-funded — and though Hilton raised more than her in the latter half of the year, for all of 2025, he raised slightly less than Katie Porter, who served as a U.S. representative from California from 2019 to 2025. She pulled in $6.1 million. After Porter, Hilton still collected more than any other hopeful all year besides Steyer.

Former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa received donations from Newmark broker Jay Luchs, and Related California’s Bill Witte, The Real Deal previously reported. Villaraigosa’s total contributions amounted to $3.2 million last year.

Another Republican candidate, Riverside County sheriff Chad Bianco received $3.7 million in total contributions. Alexander Haagen III, chairman and chief executive of Haagen Company, is one of his supporters, donating $39,200.

Democratic candidate and former secretary of health and human services Xavier Becerra pulled in $5.2 million. Another Democratic candidate, Rep. Eric Swalwell, received $3.1 million in contributions.

The other four candidates, Democratic and Republican, didn’t reach the million-dollar mark.

Newly announced candidate San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan did not have to disclose campaign funds, but he earned an endorsement from billionaire developer Rick Caruso, who said he wouldn’t run for either Los Angeles mayor or California governor after months of chatter.