Can the GOP pull off a California upset? (with Steve Hilton)

In this episode of The Conversation with Dasha Burns, host Dasha interviews Steve Hilton, the Republican candidate for governor of California, during a pivotal moment in the state's highly unpredictable gubernatorial race. With Democratic frontrunner Eric Swalwell dropping out amid misconduct allegations, the political landscape has shifted dramatically, opening space for Republican candidates like Hilton. Hilton, a British-born American citizen and former Fox News host and senior advisor to UK Prime Minister David Cameron, discusses his campaign centered on the theme of 'Californiable'—a vision to reverse the state's economic decline through practical policies focused on affordability, deregulation, and economic revitalization. He emphasizes that California's crises—high poverty, unemployment, cost of living, and business climate—are the result of 16 years of Democratic one-party rule, not federal policy. Despite President Trump's endorsement, the California Republican Party did not formally back him, highlighting internal party divisions. Hilton argues that the real battle is not between national ideologies but between local governance and state-level reform, positioning himself as a pragmatic outsider who can restore accountability and opportunity in California. He also addresses key issues like gas prices, AI regulation, Hollywood consolidation, and federal-state tensions, advocating for a decentralized, California-first approach to governance. Hilton’s campaign is built on a clear, actionable platform: lowering gas prices to $3, cutting electric bills in half, offering a $100,000 tax-free threshold, and creating a business-friendly environment. He dismisses national distractions like tariffs and foreign conflicts as irrelevant to California’s core problems, which he attributes to state-level policies. He criticizes the Democratic establishment for fostering complacency and corruption, and argues that even if the top Democratic candidate is Kamala Harris, the choice in the general election will be about change versus the status quo. The episode underscores a broader debate about the future of California: whether it can break from its entrenched political and economic patterns or remain trapped in a cycle of self-inflicted decline. Hilton presents himself as the catalyst for that change—someone who understands both the global context and the local stakes.