Steve Hilton Stands Out in CA Gubernatorial Debate

At a statewide debate for California’s race for Governor 2026, Republican Steve Hilton attacked Democratic rivals over 16 years of Democrat one party rule that has resulted in the highest poverty in the country, the highest unemployment, and highest cost of living in America. “We don’t need another Democrat. We need change!” Hilton said.

Hilton pledged to Californians $3.00 per gallon gas, as opposed to the current $4.37 per gallon today. Hilton promised tax cuts on the first $100,000 of income, and said he will cut regulations to build housing.

A post debate FOX poll showed 75% of viewers choosing Hilton as the winner, amid a wide-open race where the top-two primary on June 2 could advance Republicans if Democrats split.

“I won the debate because I told the truth about 16 years of Democrat one party rule – the fraud, the waste, the corruption, and the highest cost of living Californians,” he told the Globe. “I think Californians have had enough.”

This is incredible! 75% of viewers picked me as the debate winner.
Yet – the Democrat commentators will say there was “no clear winner”.

People are DONE with one party rule and ready for real change in California. pic.twitter.com/csD29W5XYX

— steve hilton (@SteveHiltonx) February 4, 2026

Hilton also took absent Republican challenger Riverside Sheriff Chad Bianco to task at the debate for taking a knee in solidarity in 2020 with Black Lives Matter activists to honor George Floyd, and pressed Bianco to drop out of the race.

Chad Bianco won’t face his record.

In 2020, during the Black Lives Matter riots, he took a knee when the BLM mob told him to.

Now he claims he was praying.

Watch the video at https://t.co/xliVtItoxv pic.twitter.com/5JnHI9cF1j

— steve hilton (@SteveHiltonx) February 4, 2026

Hilton said he’s concerned about splitting the Republican vote and letting Democrats dominate in California’s top-two “jungle” primary. And so far, the long list of Democrats running for governor aren’t memorable.

Hilton posted to X:

When federal agents took a knee for BLM, they were fired. Chad Bianco bent the knee and now wants to be the Republican nominee for governor. California deserves leaders who stand up, not kneel to violent mobs.

When federal agents took a knee for BLM, they were fired.

Chad Bianco bent the knee and now wants to be the Republican nominee for governor.

California deserves leaders who stand up, not kneel to violent mobs. pic.twitter.com/n5ZM7BiVfJ

— steve hilton (@SteveHiltonx) February 4, 2026

Bianco has denied taking the knee, even with video evidence on social media, and news articles from 2020. Hilton told the Globe that he’d be more understanding if Bianco owned it, rather than denying that it happened.

Yet, this Fox11 news article from 2020 clearly shows in the video and reported Sheriff Bianco’s statements, that he did in fact, take a knee with BLM protestors.

It would perhaps be understandable if in the heat of the moment, the sheriff decided that taking a knee with the protestors would help diffuse the escalating emotions at the protest. However, he has denied that he did this.

Law enforcement is supposed to be Switzerland – non-political and neutral. This wasn’t a good look.

Hilton and Candidate for California State Controller Herb Morgan recently formally requested an immediate and comprehensive federal investigation by the DOJ into the widespread fraud, waste, and systemic mismanagement of taxpayer funds within the State of California.

“Democrats have FAILED us,” Hilton said. California’s fraud adds up to $250 billion, according to Hilton’s and Morgan’s calculations. And that’s even before they have access to the state’s books.

There were seven candidates at the debate – missing was Katie Porter, Sheriff Chad Bianco and Rep. Eric Swalwell.

Steve Hilton blamed Democrats for high cost of living and Democrat policies. He said they’ve been in power for 16 years. But the worst news is Hilton says that every Californian pays $35,000 more than anywhere else in the country, just to live in the state.

He said on day one as governor, he will cut the cost of vehicle registration, noting that it is under $100 in most other states. In California, Hilton said it costs $600 to over $1,000 to register a car for most auto owners. He said he will cap the annual fee at $71.00.

“What sets me apart in this race is that I’m not a Democrat. We don’t need another Democrat. We need change,” Hilton said in closing.

The Democrats at the debate ran against Gavin Newsom’s devastating policies and worse record, and opposed Donald Trump. They repeated Democrat standards: taxing billionaires with the proposed 5% tax on assets, rent control and freezing high utility costs and home insurance costs, to address California’s lack of affordability.

This race is truly up for grabs, and no-shows are only hurting themselves. The question is, “will California voters choose a replacement Democrat, or will they recognize the damage done by the left and vote for dramatic change?”