Unemployment and financial distress. (Photo: Shutterstock, Maridav)
New Tax Calculator Shows Democrat Policies Add $35,000 a Year to Your Cost of Living
Hidden taxes, fees, bureaucracy and ideologically-driven regulation cost the average Californian $35K
By Katy Grimes, January 19, 2026 12:20 pm
Gubernatorial Candidate Steve Hilton just launched the California “Democrat Tax” Calculator to show Californians the truth about how much 16 years of Democrat one-party rule is actually costing them.
“For years, the corrupt democrat machine has ranted about a ‘strong economy’ in California despite families falling further and further behind,” the announcement reports. “The California ‘Democrat Tax’ Calculator cuts through the Democrat politicians’ B.S. and lets Californians enter their individual expenses, including housing, utilities, transportation, gas, groceries and their state and local tax burden, and directly compare what they pay here in California to the national average.”
California is not expensive by accident. It is expensive by design.
HERE is a Summary of “Democrat Tax” costs for the average family:
Democrat Tax Calculator3As the chart shows, “Californians, on average, pay $35,000 more per year than those living in the rest of the United States purely because of Democrat policies. After 16 years of Democrat one party rule, all the costs of hidden taxes, fees, bureaucracy and ideologically-driven regulation add up to $35,000 a year for the average Californian.”
“Gavin Newsom lives in a fantasy version of California that only exists in his head,” said Steve Hilton. “The rest of us are living with the cost of Democrat policies that have driven up not just taxes but rent, utility bills, gas prices, and groceries. That’s the “Democrat Tax” – the cost of living under Democrat rule. This calculator puts hard numbers on what families already feel every day.”
Try The Calculator. See how much you’re paying to live under Democrat policies.
Hilton adds, “This November, Californians have the chance to vote for change with Steve Hilton’s policy agenda to help working families and small business: $3.00 gas, electric bills cut in half, the first $100,000 of income tax-free, and so much more.”
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But, but, but… Tom Steyer promises that he’s going to do all this AND MORE…
He’s just gonna wave his magic wand and “introduce competition” into California’s energy market… what KIND of competition, Tom? Wind or Solar, take your pick?
Sad part is, the low-information voters will lap this shtuff up thinking it’s rooted in reality, instead of rooted in bovine excrement…
35 grand? Is that all? I would think it is far worse than that and in fact it is. Blue theft and taxes skew the average by masking the true impact of their demonic policies. I suggest comparing the lowest state COL and then compare it to blue states COL. Even the lowest COL is much higher than it should be as even the best state is still rife with excessive taxes and regulations.