With the California gubernatorial election just six weeks away on November 3, both candidates are ramping up their campaigns fervently. At a rally in San Gabriel City on September 19 (Saturday), Republican candidate Steve Hilton vowed to halt the spread of communism in California and lower oil prices, a key concern for Californians, to below $3.
In the afternoon at the San Gabriel Mission Theatre, Hilton took to the stage, unbuttoned his shirt, revealing a t-shirt with the words “California Wake Up,” prompting cheers from thousands of supporters. In his address themed “We Must Save California,” he expressed that California has been a mess, with people fed up with chaos and corruption, declaring, “We must take back our state, and we will do it this year.”
According to a survey conducted by the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) from September 4 to 10, Democratic candidate Xavier Becerra leads among potential voters by 60% to 38%.
Hilton acknowledged the gap in support between the two candidates but noted his optimism as he has seen polls narrowing. Many self-proclaimed “lifelong Democrats” are turning to support him due to their dissatisfaction with the current state of California.
He emphasized that the election campaign is undoubtedly a tough battle but reiterated that it doesn’t mean surrender or departure. Addressing the belief that Republicans cannot win in California as an “un-American” attitude, Hilton said, “As long as we are determined, nothing is impossible.”
Hilton mentioned his parents were refugees from the communist era in Hungary; born in the UK, he witnessed socialism gripping the country: exorbitant tax rates, unions controlling everything, endless regulations—a situation reminiscent of California.
“I want to tell you today, communism, socialism for us, is not a theoretical concept. This is not something from books; this is what my family has lived through,” he said. “I solemnly declare that I will not allow communism and socialism to take root in California!”
The audience was inspired by Hilton’s passion, joining in chanting, “USA, USA, USA!”
Hilton and his family moved to California in 2012, and since then, the state has lost millions of residents. “Why are people leaving?” he pointed out, noting that people are moving out of state because they dislike the policies here.
He stressed that the US is the land of freedom, and California is to the US what the US is to the world; once Republicans are back in power, people will return to California, businesses will come back, and California will regain its former glory, “because we will once again become the best place in the world to settle down, start a business, and thrive.”
Hilton pledged to make life better for Californians with his straightforward and practical plans; one of the fastest ways to improve California is to start with the government. “We want to stop the government from taking your money, give the money back to you; that’s our ‘Zero Waste Action.'” He also plans to cut the California high-speed rail project as soon as he takes office.
Tax reduction is also a focal point of Hilton’s plan: Californians earning up to $150,000 annually will be exempt from state taxes, saving taxpayers thousands of dollars. He also proposed abolishing the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), reducing vehicle registration fees with an annual cap of $73 per vehicle.
Oil prices are a major focus of Hilton’s policy. He stated he would end the current “crazy practice” in California—having abundant oil reserves locally but importing oil from the other side of the globe. He plans to use local oil and natural gas to create job opportunities; with gasoline prices currently around $6 or even $7-8 per gallon, he aims to bring them down to below $3.
At the rally that day, other speakers including California Lieutenant Governor candidate Gloria J. Romero, Mayor Margaret Clark of Rosemead City, and Mayor Eric Chan of San Gabriel City also delivered speeches.