In December 2013, Hu replaced Cai Qi as Organization Department chief of the Zhejiang provincial party committee, making his first foray into regional politics; Hu also earned a Shengwei Changwei seat.[1] In April 2015 he was made deputy party chief of Shaanxi.[2] On 1 April 2016, Hu was promoted to Acting Governor of Shaanxi, succeeding Lou Qinjian.