Steve Hilton
Professional Background
Education & Credentials
Missions & Policies
Proposes making the first $100,000 of individual income tax-free to reduce the financial burden on middle- and lower-income residents.
Aims to reduce utility bills by half through the diversification of energy sources and reducing regulatory fees.
Targets a reduction in gasoline prices by increasing the production and use of in-state oil and gas resources rather than relying on imported fuel.
Advocates for the strict enforcement of laws prohibiting camping on public streets. Proposes removing individuals from encampments for immediate triage and assessment of needs.
Shifts focus from “Housing First” models to “Sober Housing.” Supports the construction of tiny homes as a lower-cost alternative to traditional apartment complexes for the unhoused.
Supports the passage of laws that would allow for involuntary mental health treatment for individuals in crisis. Aims to move psychiatric care out of the jail system and into dedicated medical facilities.
Proposes a complete review of state homelessness spending, with a policy to eliminate funding for NGOs and non-profits that cannot demonstrate successful outcomes.
Focuses on increasing the supply of buyable homes by reducing state-level regulatory hurdles and administrative costs in the construction process.
Prioritizes increasing water deliveries to the farming industry through executive orders and appointments to the state Water Resources Control Board.
Advocates for an overhaul of the state budget to eliminate what he describes as “wasteful spending” and “administrative bloat,” particularly within the education and homelessness sectors.
Proposes freezing tuition at public colleges and universities by cutting administrative costs and eliminating remedial coursework that does not contribute to graduation requirements.
Frames the campaign as a nonpartisan effort to address “one-party rule,” focusing on administrative efficiency and results rather than traditional party platforms.
Top 20 Contributors
Endorsements
Controversial Administrative Record & Inquiries
Court documents unsealed in 2024 related to the Jeffrey Epstein case listed Hilton’s name. While the documents do not imply criminal misconduct, the inclusion has prompted significant media scrutiny during his gubernatorial bid [00:01:05].
Hilton has aggressively claimed the state has lost up to $425 billion to fraud and waste over five years. Critics and state officials have pushed back on these specific figures, questioning the methodology of his “Califraudia” whistleblower reports [00:04:21].
A public rift emerged with prominent GOP figure Sheriff Chad Bianco, who labeled Hilton a “fraud.” This conflict has sparked inquiries into Hilton’s standing within the Republican coalition and his ability to unite law enforcement interests.
Hilton has used his platform to accuse multiple state officials, including Xavier Becerra, of overseeing massive fraud. These combative claims are viewed by some as central to his reform platform and by others as politically motivated hyperbole [00:03:32].
