SouthernWorldwide.com – In 2016, then-presidential candidate Donald Trump famously asked Black voters, “What do you have to lose?”
Trump challenged African American voters to reconsider their long-standing allegiance to the Democratic Party. He argued, accurately, that the party took them for granted and had failed to address the most pressing needs of Black families, such as providing their children with a quality education.
Steve Hilton, a Republican candidate for governor in the deeply Democratic state of California, should be asking Golden State voters the same question.
California is one of the most expensive places to live in the United States. This is largely due to decisions made by Democrats, who have controlled the state Legislature with a two-thirds supermajority since 2018 and have held the governor’s office since 2011.
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Beyond its unaffordability, California ranks high in homelessness, poverty, and illegal immigration. The state is also experiencing an exodus of businesses and residents who are fed up with high taxes and burdensome regulations.
Even some Democrats, like gubernatorial candidate and tech entrepreneur Matt Mahan, acknowledge that the state needs to change direction. Mahan, a graduate of Silicon Valley and Harvard who has served as the mayor of San Jose for three years, stated, “We don’t need MAGA, but we don’t need more of the same.” He has criticized his party on various issues, including its handling of homelessness and public safety.
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The primary election in California is scheduled for June 2. Mail-in voting commenced on Monday. Currently, Hilton is leading a large field of candidates, and against all odds, the Republican has a realistic chance.
Until recently, Hilton’s prospects were even stronger due to the mechanics of California’s open primary system and the significant number of Democrats running. The state’s open primary allows the top two candidates, regardless of party affiliation, to advance to the November general election.
A few weeks ago, Hilton and fellow Republican Chad Bianco, the sheriff of Riverside County, were at the forefront of the crowded field. With more than eight Democrats dividing their party’s vote, if Hilton and Bianco had secured the top two spots in the June primary, California would have been on track to elect its first Republican governor since Arnold Schwarzenegger.
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This possibility caused considerable panic among Democrats, prompting them to urge their party members to withdraw from the race. When this strategy proved insufficient, they appear to have orchestrated the end of Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell’s candidacy, and potentially his career, by bringing to light sexual assault allegations that had been circulating about him for some time. This was a ruthless yet effective maneuver. Swalwell was leading at the time, but the surfacing of these unsavory allegations at a critical campaign juncture could have proven politically damaging.
Furthermore, Swalwell’s withdrawal benefited the campaigns of billionaire environmental activist Tom Steyer and Xavier Becerra, a former Biden administration official. Both are now running closely behind Hilton, while Bianco has fallen to fourth place.
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If Hilton faces Steyer, Becerra, or another Democrat in the general election, could he still win? It would undoubtedly be an uphill battle. Approximately 46% of California voters are registered Democrats, with the remaining voters roughly divided between Republicans, independents, and others. Additionally, Hilton has received the endorsement of former President Donald Trump, whose approval rating in California is below 40%.
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On the other hand, the Democratic field is considered weak, even by their own party’s standards. A recent article in The New York Times highlighted the dismay among Democrats that former Vice President Kamala Harris had not entered the gubernatorial race, with party officials admitting the field is “lackluster.” A year ago, Harris was the favored contender, according to an Emerson poll, securing about 31% of voters and 49% of Democrats’ support. Instead of running for governor, Harris has been hinting at a potential third presidential bid.
Tom Steyer, a progressive hedge fund manager, is currently in second place, largely due to his substantial self-financing. CalMatters recently reported that Steyer is “on track to run the most expensive gubernatorial campaign in state history, having already spent more than $132 million.”
Given that Democrats nationally are increasingly aligning with left-wing ideologies and adopting anti-wealth platforms, Steyer might be considered an unconventional choice for the party.
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Another contender is Xavier Becerra, a former Democratic congressman and previously the head of Health and Human Services under President Biden. He has garnered a significant portion of the traditional Democratic vote previously held by Swalwell.
Hilton offers a fresh, common-sense approach to California’s challenges. Like most Americans, Californians are struggling with the high cost of living, with 70% in a CBS poll describing it as “unmanageable.” Public sentiment regarding the state’s economy is discouraged, with substantial majorities of Republicans and independents, and even 39% of Democrats, characterizing it as “bad.”
Climate policies enacted by Democrats have drastically increased energy costs. Gasoline in California now exceeds $6 per gallon, over 40% higher than the national average. Housing is also significantly more expensive than in the rest of the U.S., attributed to stringent environmental regulations. Individual income taxes are the highest in the nation, and the state is tied with Delaware for the highest unemployment rate.
Hilton has pledged to end California’s “war on business,” reduce taxes, and curb the state’s ever-increasing spending. He is also advocating for improved educational standards, stating on his website: “Only 35 percent of K-12 students meet state math standards, and only 47 percent meet state English language standards.”
Hilton’s message has resonated deeply; his campaign boasts the highest number of individual donors, and he has traveled across the state, drawing large and enthusiastic crowds. He has the potential to deliver the change that California voters are seeking.
What do they have to lose?
