SAN DIEGO — The California Republican Party decided not to endorse any candidate for governor at its state convention on Sunday after neither leading contender secured the required level of delegate support. Sheriff Chad Bianco received 49 percent of the delegate vote, while Steve Hilton received 44 percent, with both falling short of the 60 percent threshold needed for an endorsement.

President Donald Trump endorsed Hilton for California governor last week, but the backing did not translate into enough delegate support to clear the party's endorsement bar. Bianco, despite finishing ahead of Hilton in the vote, also fell below the 60 percent requirement.

Bianco told KCRA after the vote: "It shouldn't have been near that close. The noise from this room, it was obvious it was not going to be close and then, it was. We're very confident we'll be occupying the governor's office in January."

Bianco also posted on social media following the convention: "For too long, politicians and insiders from Sacramento to Washington have tried to pick our leaders for us. That's not leadership. That's a coronation."