At the 2026 bipartisan gubernatorial forum hosted by the “Patriots For Freedom Club,” five gubernatorial candidates, including political commentator Steve Hilton and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, debated various issues raised by voters in California such as sanctuary state policies, high taxes, fraud, human trafficking, healthcare, housing, energy and water resource crises, and election integrity.
The “Patriots For Freedom Club” has branches in five U.S. states and aims to reshape America by supporting candidates who adhere to the principle of “America First,” emphasizing the importance of upholding law and order, protecting freedom, ensuring election integrity, and border security.
The SB54 bill in California, also known as the “California Values Act,” became effective in January 2018, prohibiting California law enforcement agencies from cooperating with federal immigration enforcement, including investigations, questioning, detaining, surveillance, or arrests to assist federal immigration enforcement, thus making California a “sanctuary state” for illegal immigrants.
Sheriff Chad Bianco stated, “As a sheriff, because of the existence of SB54, I am either going to violate federal law or violate state law. If I cooperate with federal agencies to transfer illegal immigrants for deportation, I am committing a crime, so I can only release them back into the community.” “It (SB54) is unconstitutional in itself, and has no purpose other than protecting criminals detained and illegally staying in the United States.”
Former Marine David Serpa supported abolishing policies like SB54, stating that 14% of social services go to foreigners. He suggested expanding the existing E-Verify system to include housing, education, and employment, which would prompt illegal immigrants to leave the U.S. if ineligible for these benefits.
Political commentator Steve Hilton remarked, “We elected a U.S. president, ending years of open border chaos…California should eliminate incentives for illegal immigration and stop giving $13 billion for free healthcare to them. This situation must end.”
Businessman Lewis Herms believed that laws like SB54 are “controlling us,” suggesting that California law enforcement should not follow state laws that contradict the U.S. Constitution.
Navy veteran Daniel Mercuri stated, “If illegal immigrants commit heinous crimes such as rape, murder, child molestation, drug trafficking, or weapons trafficking, it’s not just an issue of deportation, they should be prosecuted here. We need to send a clear message: Don’t come to California.”
Bianco emphasized, “California has the most stringent government regulations in the U.S., whether it’s your business, personal life, or government institutions, this is the root of all problems in California.” If elected as governor, he plans to “abolish activist-driven regulations and taxation, allowing real experts to enter committees. Government regulation has destroyed our oil and construction industries and is ruining the entire state of California.”
Hilton stated, “The more (I campaign) around beautiful California, the more I realize what we are truly fighting against is 16 years of corruption caused by one-party rule, and the government institutions, unions, and politicians associated with it. I and Herb Morgan, who is running for state auditor, just disclosed California’s staggering $250 billion fraud.”
Serpa claimed, “When Newsom was elected governor, California had a $30 billion surplus, and he may leave office this year with a $68 billion deficit; federal funding received by California and state taxes have many undisclosed destinations, with seven state treasury sub-agencies found to engage in fraudulent activities.”
Mercuri believed, “California has many laws targeting children, indoctrinating and manipulating them in schools; human trafficking is severe, Child Protective Services (CPS) fails to protect children and families; they attack families and children, promoting Marxism, which is abhorrent.”
Bianco stated, “There are many excellent workers in CPS, but it is a corrupt system and agenda that spreads from the top down.”
In a documentary produced by Herms, a sex trafficking victim sought help from CPS, worsening her situation, and media coverage halted police investigation.
Bianco vowed to persuade the legislature to prioritize issues and eliminate regulations that destroy California, stating, “I’ve worked at the sheriff’s office for 32 years, knowing that law-abiding citizens won’t commit crimes, and guns themselves won’t run out to the streets killing people. Gun laws prevent law-abiding residents from legally owning guns.”
Serpa mentioned that the governor recently added $40 billion to the budget, intending to reduce $60 billion in spending, cut taxes for the working class, abolish government housing quotas, and reform corrupt institutions.
Herms believed that homelessness is a persistent issue because it is profitable, “In fact, once counties declare a crisis, they can apply for more federal and state aid. Governor Newsom provided Los Angeles with about $5 billion in bonds, but how was that money used? Without oversight.”
Bianco added, “We deal with the homeless every day, ‘homeless’ is a psychological strategy to make you sympathize with them; it’s mostly fueled by drugs and alcohol. Billions of dollars never reach the streets, not helping those who truly need it.”
After graduating high school, Serpa was once homeless, stating, “I know them, am friends with them, it’s not just mental illnesses caused by drugs, etc. The government is so corrupt, mismanaged, people are under immense life pressures.”
Mercuri insisted, “There must be a thorough cleanup of California’s voter rolls, rebuilding people’s trust in elections.”
Hilton discussed forest management and water resources, “We must revive the forestry destroyed by California’s reckless environmental policies. California used to harvest about 60 billion board feet of timber annually, but now we need to import timber from Oregon and Canada;” “Existing water infrastructure can increase water supply to farmers; under President Trump’s pressure, water allocation has increased, but in the long run, infrastructure such as reservoirs, desalination plants are necessary.”
According to a poll jointly released by Emerson College and “California Political Insiders” on December 4th last year, Republican candidates Bianco and Hilton, as well as Democratic candidates Congressman Eric Swalwell and former Congresswoman Katie Porter, each garnered 13% to 11% support; other candidates received a combined 20% support. 31% of voters have yet to decide on their voting intentions.