Steve Hilton

Where Hilton stands

Grouped by topic by Vote Book; headings and quoted words are the candidate’s own, with the source under each one. “As reported” items are a news outlet’s description, not an exact quote.

Taxes & spending

REDUCE TAXES FOR WORKERS AND END THE BUREAUCRATIC WAR ON BUSINESS

Democrat one-party rule gave California the highest unemployment in America, and the highest rate of poverty. What a devastating record – especially when we also pay the highest taxes in the country. Democrats brag about California being the “world’s fifth largest economy”, and that’s true. But that ignores the fact that over a third of Californians can’t meet their basic needs. It’s a shameful record. And imagine …

PRO-WORKER, PRO-GROWTH TAX REDUCTION

California has a completely unaffordable cost of living, driven by the highest taxes in America and the highest prices for housing, rent, electricity, and water. As governor my priority will be to help working people by reducing their taxes:

RETURN TO SENSIBLE SPENDING

Reducing taxes, which is urgent, will require a more sensible approach to spending. Over the last decade, government spending has more than doubled in California – from $161 billion in 2015/16 to $322 billion in 2025/26. Even after taking account of inflation, the budget has gone up by 50%. And it’s still going up! My aim is to return spending to pre-pandemic levels, where it would have been if the government had …

CAP HIDDEN HOUSING TAXES

Most people don’t realize that a huge (and rising) part of the cost of housing is directly imposed by state and local government in the form of “Impact Fees” – charges that are supposed to cover the local “impact” of housing development. These have risen to astronomical levels: the Terner Center for Housing Innovation at UC Berkeley estimates that fees can now make up nearly 20% of the typical house price. …

Jobs, wages & cost of living

END THE BUREAUCRATIC WAR ON BUSINESS

Talk to any business in California, especially smaller businesses, and they’ll tell you regulation is their biggest nightmare. Last year, California’s Democrat Industrial Complex passed 1,200 bills containing yet more ridiculous micro-managing regulation – on top of the 420,000 regulations that already exist.

Families & communities

RESTORE THE CALIFORNIA DREAM OF A SINGLE FAMILY HOME FOR EVERY FAMILY

For generations, when people pictured the American Dream, it was the California Dream: a home of your own, in a safe neighborhood, with a yard where your kids could play. It’s hard to imagine now, but there was a time when California had the most affordable homes in the country.

Background & priorities

VISION FOR CALIFORNIA

A good job, where you make enough to raise your family in a home of your own in a safe neighborhood with a good school so your kids have a better life than you. Great jobs, great homes, great kids. Reduce taxes for workers and end the bureaucratic war on business