Republican Steve Hilton, who is running for governor of California, has drawn sharp criticism from members of his own party over a recent campaign advertisement that has been called unsettling and inappropriate. The video, titled "Just Try It, California," was released last week and features two young women with brightly colored hair seated on a bed beneath a pride flag in dim lighting. In the clip, one woman hesitates, saying, "I can’t believe I’m doing this," while the other strokes her hair and says, "don’t be nervous, it’s not that bad," before guiding her to complete a ballot for Hilton and issuing a direct command to "lick it." The ad has sparked concern among party officials and commentators, who have questioned its tone and suitability for a political campaign. Hilton’s bid for governor remains a longshot, and the backlash underscores growing unease within the party about his campaign approach.