Governor of California
Steve Hilton
Political commentator; former Fox News hostR
- Race
- Governor of California
- Election
- 2026-11-03
- Opponent
- Xavier Becerra (D)
- Research
- Basic
Party linenone
No recorded floor votes — not a current legislator in our records.
Said vs. did5 statements · 0 votes
Steve Hilton will repeal California's costly wind and solar mandates and subsidies
Faster transition away from fossil fuels
Compare statements with votes ›On the ballotGovernor
2026-11-03
| Xavier Becerra D | challenger |
| Steve Hilton R | challenger |
Top-two primary finisher (25%); one of two candidates on the official certified general-election list; endorsed by President Donald Trump.
Said vs. did
Each documented position next to the recorded floor votes we map to the same issue. Votes are compared one at a time; no overall stance is inferred from them.
Steve Hilton will repeal California's costly wind and solar mandates and subsidies
Says he would repeal California's wind and solar mandates and subsidies and let natural gas, nuclear and rooftop solar compete on a level playing field.[5]
No recorded floor vote in our key-vote set maps to this issue.
Instead of focusing on criminals who misuse firearms, Democrats in state government have targeted law abiding citizens with layer after layer of regulation.
His policy page says California has some of the most restrictive gun laws in the country and proposes an executive order directing state agencies to review their firearm policies for conflicts with the Second Amendment and recent Supreme Court rulings, plus a review of state firearm laws to identify restrictions he considers unconstitutional.[6]
No recorded floor vote in our key-vote set maps to this issue.
Hilton will expand choice through ESAs, starting with low-income and special needs students.
His education plan says he would expand school choice through education savings accounts, starting with low-income and special-needs students, and bring back and expand the parent trigger law.[7]
No recorded floor vote in our key-vote set maps to this issue.
Steve will increase CHP’s annual budget to $4 billion and build the force toward 10,000 sworn officers.
His plan would raise the California Highway Patrol's annual budget to $4 billion and build it toward 10,000 sworn officers, paid for by cutting executive-branch headcount.[8]
No recorded floor vote in our key-vote set maps to this issue.
work together within the sanctuary state law to focus on removing the people who most Californians would agree shouldn’t be here
At a March 2026 town hall he said “sanctuary policies will end” and that his administration would partner with the federal government on enforcement (per The Santa Barbara Independent); in a September 30, 2026 Deadline interview he described working within the sanctuary state law and focusing removals on people who have committed crimes.[9][10]
No recorded floor vote in our key-vote set maps to this issue.
Biography
Steve Hilton is the Republican nominee for governor, a political commentator who hosted 'The Next Revolution' on Fox News from 2017 to 2023 and earlier served as director of strategy to UK Prime Minister David Cameron. His platform centers on income- and gas-tax cuts, loosening housing and environmental rules and changing the state's sanctuary law.[1][2][3][4]
Basic profile — the most important sourced facts we found.
Hilton was born in London in 1969 to Hungarian immigrants and studied Philosophy, Politics and Economics at New College, Oxford.[1][11] According to his campaign website, he later taught at Stanford.[11]
He served as director of strategy for Prime Minister Cameron from 2010 to 2012, then moved to California in 2012; he became a U.S. citizen in 2021.[1][4] He co-founded the political crowdfunding platform Crowdpac, where he was CEO until 2018.[1][3]
From 2017 to 2023 he hosted a weekly Fox News show, 'The Next Revolution,' and he has written books on decentralizing power in institutions.[1][3]
In their own words
Priorities
- Eliminate state income tax on the first $150,000 of earnings (income above that taxed at 8%) and lower gas prices, including by removing the state's 60-cent-per-gallon gasoline excise tax and reducing fuel regulations (his '$3 gas' plan).[12][13]
- Repeal wind and solar mandates and subsidies to cut electricity bills, and reduce regulation on housing construction.[5][14]
- Bring back the 'starter home' by reducing or deferring fees on entry-level homes, fast-tracking approvals and creating a state-backed starter home loan program for first-time buyers.[15]
Statements, quoted without a stance
- Protect legal access to abortion
“move us toward life in ways that are achievable and realistic”[9]
At a March 2026 Santa Barbara town hall, per The Santa Barbara Independent, which also reports he would oppose public funds for out-of-state abortion travel
- Loosen zoning rules to build more housing
“Steve Hilton will cap the combined cost of fees, permits and government mandates at $50,000 per new home, cut the rules and delays that make building so expensive, and open up more places for starter homes.”[16]
On his campaign policy page on new-home fees
- Expand public health coverage
“But more spending is not success if families still cannot afford care, and an insurance card is not much use if nobody will take it.”[17]
On his Working Class Healthcare Guarantee policy page, which proposes price transparency, more providers and changes to Medi-Cal
Campaign moneyNo FEC filing summary matched — state candidates file with their state, not the FEC.
Profile: /people/steve-hilton
Compare all 2 candidates side by side ›
Sources cited in this profile
- 1.Steve Hilton · Wikipedia · 2026-10-19 Reference
- 2.Xavier Becerra (D) and Steve Hilton (R) to run for governor of California on Nov. 3 · Ballotpedia News · 2026-10-19 Reference
- 3.California Voter Guide 2026: Governor · CalMatters · 2026-10-19 News report
- 4.Democrat Xavier Becerra and Republican Steve Hilton will face off in California governor's race · Associated Press (via WTOP) · 2026-06-09 News report
- 5.Cut California's Electricity Bills by Ending Wind and Solar Farm Mandates and Subsidies · Hilton campaign · 2026-10-19 Candidate's own words
- 6.Restoring Second Amendment Rights in California · Hilton campaign · 2026-10-19 Candidate's own words
- 7.Making California's Schools Work Again: Fix Public Education by 3rd Grade · Steve Hilton for Governor campaign Candidate's own words
- 8.Build a Real California State Police Force · Steve Hilton for Governor campaign Candidate's own words
- 9.Republican Steve Hilton Campaigns for Governor in Santa Barbara, Promotes 'Califordable' Agenda · The Santa Barbara Independent · 2026-03-04 News report
- 10.Steve Hilton On Governor Debate, ParaBros, Trump, Tax Credits, AI - Q&A · Deadline · 2026-09-30 News report
- 11.Meet Steve · Steve Hilton for Governor (campaign website) · 2026-10-21 Candidate's own words
- 12.No State Income Tax on Your First $150,000 · Hilton campaign · 2026-10-19 Candidate's own words
- 13.$3 Gas with Steve Hilton · Hilton campaign · 2026-10-19 Candidate's own words
- 14.California Voter Guide 2026: Governor · CalMatters · 2026-10-19 News report
- 15.Bring Back the Starter Home in California · Hilton campaign · 2026-10-19 Candidate's own words
- 16.Stop the Hidden Tax on New Homes: Cap Government Fees and Regulatory Costs at $50,000 · Steve Hilton for Governor campaign Candidate's own words
- 17.The Working Class Healthcare Guarantee · Steve Hilton for Governor campaign Candidate's own words