Steve Hilton’s California governor bid courts Trump critics
Steve Hilton opened his general election run by arguing Californians can dislike Trump and still back his affordability platform.
By Daniel Okafor · Business Editor
3 min read
Steve Hilton, California governor candidate and Republican nominee, opened his general election campaign Wednesday with a direct appeal to voters who oppose President Donald Trump. The pitch reflects the hard math facing any GOP contender in a state where Democrats dominate statewide politics.
At a Los Angeles event, Hilton argued that the race should turn on California’s cost of living rather than voters’ views of national politics. Trump has endorsed Hilton, a fact his Democratic opponent is already using against him, according to the Associated Press.
Hilton staged the kickoff near a cold storage warehouse in Boyle Heights where a recent fire left residents complaining about odors, flies and rodents. He used the site as an example of what he called government failure in the state.
What is Steve Hilton promising in the California governor race?
Hilton said he would push gasoline prices down to $3 a gallon, reduce utility bills by half and remove state income taxes on the first $150,000 of earnings. He also blamed Democrats for problems including homelessness and weak student test scores, saying the party had abandoned working-class residents.
Some of those promises would be difficult for a governor to deliver alone. The governor does not set oil or utility prices, and a major change to the state income tax system would likely require approval from a Legislature controlled by Democrats, the Associated Press reported.
Hilton said his approach would be to eliminate state mandates, taxes and fees that he says raise costs. He capped the launch with a television ad focused on household finances, saying life in California has become unaffordable for people who are not already wealthy.
Can Steve Hilton win California governor?
Hilton faces long odds in November. State voter registration figures show Democrats outnumber Republicans by nearly 2-to-1, and California has not elected a Republican to statewide office since 2006.
Trump’s record in California adds to the challenge. He lost the state by 30 points in 2016, 29 points in 2020 and 20 points in 2024, according to election results cited by the Associated Press.
Hilton tried to create room between the governor’s race and Trump without rejecting the president’s support. Speaking to supporters, he said the election was about what Californians want for their state, including making it a better place to raise a family and run a business.
Former Democratic lawmaker Gloria Romero, who switched parties in 2024 and is the Republican nominee for lieutenant governor, joined Hilton at the event. She spoke in English and Spanish as supporters held Hilton-Romero campaign signs.
How is Xavier Becerra responding?
Democrat Xavier Becerra, the former U.S. health and human services secretary, state attorney general, congressman and state lawmaker, is favored in the race to succeed Gov. Gavin Newsom. Newsom is barred from seeking a third term and is widely seen as a possible 2028 presidential candidate.
Becerra campaign spokesman Jonathan Underland rejected Hilton’s attempt to present himself as a change candidate. He called Hilton “Trump’s puppet in California” and said Hilton would govern the state in Trump’s style.
Underland also criticized Hilton’s affordability message, saying Hilton supports a president whose policies have raised costs for California families. Hilton and Becerra advanced from a June primary that included more than 50 candidates.
The race is unfolding as California struggles with persistent homelessness, projected budget gaps, high housing costs, disruptions in the home insurance market and some of the country’s highest gasoline prices, taxes and utility bills.
This story draws on original reporting from Fortune.