A major state editorial board just endorsed Steve Hilton for California governor on a promise to slash taxes, gas, and housing costs.
Story Snapshot
- The California Post editorial board endorsed Steve Hilton for governor, citing affordability plans.
- Hilton proposes no state income tax on the first $150,000 and $3 gas through policy changes.
- Polling shows Democrat Xavier Becerra with a large lead ahead of Election Day.
- The race tests whether cost-of-living anger can overcome California’s blue trend.
Editorial Endorsement Cites Affordability Agenda
The California Post editorial board endorsed Steve Hilton for governor and tied its backing to his plans to cut living costs. The board highlighted proposals to lower income taxes, reduce fuel prices, and boost single-family home building. The editorial said Hilton’s agenda targets everyday bills that squeeze families and small businesses. The endorsement adds media momentum in the final stretch, but endorsements alone do not decide races and often serve as voter cues rather than guarantees.
Hilton has centered his campaign on a simple pitch: make California affordable again. He told Axios he would eliminate state income tax on the first $150,000 of income and set an eight percent flat rate above that. He also pledged to get gas to three dollars per gallon by scrapping the state gas tax, rolling back the Low Carbon Fuel Standard, and increasing in-state oil supply. He has also promoted faster housing approvals and lower utility bills in public events.
Race Math: Big Promises Versus Blue-State Headwinds
Recent polling shows Democrat Xavier Becerra holding a strong lead, with one survey putting him up by 27 points among likely voters. That suggests Hilton must convert late-breaking voters and boost turnout to close the gap. California has not elected a Republican governor since 2006, and the state has moved further left in statewide contests. That history sets a steep climb for any Republican nominee, regardless of an editorial boost.
Hilton argues that basics like taxes, gas, housing, and power bills cut across party lines. He frames his plan as a break with what many see as a status quo that benefits insiders while everyday people fall behind. That message speaks to broad frustration with high costs and with a government many now see as unresponsive. The question is whether voters weigh pain at the pump and the rent check more than party identity in a solidly blue state.
What Hilton Says He Would Do On Day One
Hilton details a list of actions he says would hit family budgets fast. He would exempt the first $150,000 of income from state tax, then apply an eight percent flat rate above that. He would also push for three-dollar gas by ending the state gas tax, reversing clean-fuel rules, and restarting local energy production. He has also talked about streamlining permits to speed homebuilding and cutting utility costs through regulatory changes shared on the trail.
The editorial board of the California Post, the sister publication of the New York Post, has just endorsed Steve Hilton for Governor of California. @SteveHiltonx pic.twitter.com/Z29J7ewjFd
— Saint James Hartline (@JamesHartline) October 29, 2026
Supporters see these steps as relief for working families and small firms that feel shut out. Critics warn that deep tax cuts and cheaper gas targets could strain the budget and conflict with climate goals, though those concerns are not the focus of the endorsement. The California Post’s move underscores how cost-of-living anger now drives politics. Voters across the spectrum say the system favors elites while bills rise. This race tests whether that anger can reset California’s direction.
Sources:
abc7.com, kpbs.org, latimes.com, charlotteobserver.com
© truthandliberty.com 2026. All rights reserved.
