Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton presented himself as a pro-business immigrant determined to “restore the California dream” during an interview hosted by American Community Media as part of its California governor race series.
Hilton, originally from the United Kingdom and a former senior adviser to former British Prime Minister David Cameron, emphasized his personal immigrant story while criticizing California’s Democratic leadership over the past 16 years.
“I’m a proud immigrant and new American citizen,” Hilton said, describing how his Hungarian refugee parents raised him in a working-class household before he eventually moved to California in 2012.
The entrepreneur, political commentator and founder of Golden Together argued that California has become unaffordable for working families and businesses, pointing to high taxes, housing costs, gas prices and electricity bills.
Among his most notable proposals, Hilton pledged to:
- Eliminate state income taxes on the first $100,000 earned.
- Remove California’s annual small business tax.
- End taxes on tips at the state level.
- Reduce vehicle registration fees to a flat $71 annually.
- Lower gas prices to around $3 per gallon.
- Cut electricity bills in half.
On immigration, Hilton drew a sharp distinction between legal and undocumented immigration. While repeatedly describing himself as “pro-immigration,” he said California should not obstruct federal immigration enforcement policies.
He argued that immigration policy is ultimately a federal responsibility and criticized what he described as confrontational approaches by California leaders toward federal authorities.
Hilton also addressed labor shortages in agriculture, saying California should reduce dependency on undocumented labor and expand workforce participation among unemployed residents. He additionally pointed to growing automation in the agricultural industry as part of the long-term solution.
In healthcare, Hilton proposed ending taxpayer-funded healthcare benefits for undocumented immigrants, arguing California taxpayers should not subsidize services for non-citizens beyond what federal law permits.
On education, he criticized diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives when they distract from academic fundamentals, especially reading and math performance among Latino and Black students.
Hilton also focused heavily on crime and public safety. He called for stronger prosecution of crimes, reversing prison closures, increasing rehabilitation programs and taking a tougher stance against hate crimes targeting Asian and Jewish communities.
Regarding wildfires, Hilton argued that poor forest management — rather than climate change alone — has worsened California’s wildfire crisis. He proposed reducing environmental regulations that, according to him, prevent adequate fuel and vegetation management.
As the 2026 California gubernatorial race intensifies, Hilton is positioning himself as a conservative alternative focused on affordability, public safety and government reform while appealing to legal immigrant communities and working-class voters.