What California needs right now is change and checks and balances. Since 2011, California has never once stepped out from under the shadow of the Democratic Party. The Democrats have simultaneously controlled the governorship and the state legislature’s Senate and Assembly, leading California all this while. What has returned to Californians is nothing more than high inflation, high living costs, and high tax rates.
Republican Steve Hilton (57, pictured), running in the upcoming November gubernatorial election, is putting change and reform front and center.
Calls for change are growing louder among Californians as well. According to a survey conducted by the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) in September, 54% of respondents stated that California is heading in the wrong direction. A staggering 71% responded that the California economy will face difficult times over the next 12 months.
Hilton argues that excessive regulation and an enlarged state government are behind the high taxes, high cost of living, housing shortages, and rising electricity and gas prices, emphasizing a major policy shift.
His message is concise and clear. Hilton stated he would exempt income tax for the first $150,000 of income and lower gas prices to around $3 per gallon. He also expressed his stance to cut electricity rates in half and eliminate the annual $800 minimum franchise tax imposed on small businesses. In the housing sector, he proposed reducing regulations and various costs to expand supply for the younger generation. He also announced plans to cap vehicle registration fees at $73 and completely overhaul the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).
Even former Democratic U.S. Representative Katie Porter, who faced off against him in the June primary, has started praising Hilton’s pledges. In a podcast last month, Porter evaluated that Hilton is focusing on “concrete and practical policy proposals” that directly help Californians’ lives without being bogged down by ideology. In particular, she praised the vehicle registration fee reduction and income tax exemption benefits as very sensible and excellent approaches.
Hilton is a first-generation immigrant. His background as an immigrant is a point that the Korean-American community should take note of. In an exclusive interview with this publication last April, he stated, “I know very well what it means to find opportunity in a new country,” and added, “I will help Korean-Americans get more opportunities in California.”>
He also has plenty of experience. He served as strategy advisor to Prime Minister David Cameron in the United Kingdom and has also worked as a political commentator in California.
His electoral competitiveness was also confirmed in the last primary. In the June election, Hilton’s vote share was 24.7%. The gap with his opponent Becerra (28.1%) was a mere 3.4 percentage points. He has proven his competitiveness in California, a Democratic stronghold.
Mainstream media leaning toward the Democrats are supporting Becerra as if appointing themselves as a party organ. On the 30th, the LA Times even made appearance-shaming criticisms regarding Hilton and Becerra’s TV debate, saying, “Button your shirt. This isn’t a casino.” This contrasts with a short while ago when they used cheesy expressions such as Gavin Newsom’s warm appearance and well-combed hair while introducing his autobiography. California’s Democratic entrenched elites, including Becerra, are falling into self-contradiction as they can neither deny nor affirm the results they have produced after governing for 15 years, leading them to focus on non-essential nitpicking rather than policy commentary.
This California gubernatorial election is an election asking whether to maintain the direction of Democratic policies pursued so far or to choose a greater degree of change in taxes, regulations, and government operations. Hilton shouts, “California is heading in the wrong direction right now.” It is time to lend strength to California’s change and reform.
