Steve Hilton & Spencer Pratt: Fixing California, Cheaper Gas, Ballot Fraud & CA Republicans

Steve Hilton: Republican California Governor Candidate

• Campaign Positioning & Timeline

  • Hilton is running as a Republican governor candidate with a stated deadline of "seven weeks" to "save" California before the election.
  • He frames the race as "the people versus the machine," targeting the entrenched Democratic power structure.
  • Polling data cited by Hilton shows the margin narrowing from a 30-point gap after the primary to an 8-point gap in the latest surveys.
  • The campaign targets 33% solid support for Hilton, 41% for Democrat Javier Becerra, and 26% "up for grabs," specifically focusing on non-college-educated working people.
  • A recent private poll suggests 33% of voters are solidly behind Hilton, with the critical swing demographic consisting of independents and uncommitted Democrats.

• Diagnosis of California's Crisis

  • Hilton claims 16 years of one-party Democratic control have resulted in the "highest poverty rate," "highest unemployment," and "highest cost of living" in the country.
  • He cites Chief Executive magazine ranking California 50th out of 50 for business climate for over a decade.
  • He notes a median home price of nearly $1 million against a median individual salary of $65,000.
  • Hilton argues the state has lost millions of residents due to the "worst outcomes" regarding business climate and quality of life.
  • He characterizes the political system as "corrupt," citing the influence of trial lawyers and unions, with a 90% litigation risk for new businesses.
  • He asserts the Sacramento legislature is ineffective, having passed 1,118 bills last year (printed at twice Hilton's height) that are unread by leadership.

• Proposed Policy Solutions

  • Regulatory Cuts: Pledges to reduce the California regulatory code from over 420,000 items to under 200,000 by the end of his first term.
  • Tax Reform: Proposes a "first $150,000 tax-free" plan, effectively creating a state income tax exemption for that bracket.
  • Government Efficiency: Plans for a 10% reduction in state government headcount and a 5% efficiency saving.
  • Transportation & Energy: Pledges to cancel the High-Speed Rail project and dismantle hidden fuel taxes (Cap and Invest, Low Carbon Fuel Standard) to lower gas prices from ~$6 to ~$3 per gallon.
  • Vehicle Registration: Proposes capping car registration fees at a flat $73 per year, replacing the current tiered system where fees can exceed $1,000.
  • Budget Reallocation: Aims to cut funding for non-profits accused of exacerbating homelessness and redirect funds to tangible services.

• Critique of Opponents (Javier Becerra & Incumbents)

  • Hilton labels Becerra a "36-year career politician" and "puppet" for unions and trial lawyers.
  • He cites a quote from Susan Rice (former Obama/Biden advisor) calling Becerra an "idiot" and a "bitch-ass," though he admits the latter quote was from the latter regarding her description.
  • Hilton claims Becerra lacks executive skill, citing a quote from a Biden cabinet member stating "running a large executive agency is not exactly his skill set."
  • He contrasts his candidacy with the "machine" candidates who he argues prioritize ideology over the well-being of working-class residents.

• Spencer Pratt: Los Angeles Mayor Candidate & Endorsement

  • Spencer Pratt, a media personality and founder of a campaign against Mayor Karen Bass, joined the segment to endorse Hilton.
  • Pratt describes the Democratic political apparatus in Los Angeles as a "corrupt criminal mafia cartel" rather than just a "machine."
  • He alleges massive voter fraud in the LA mayoral race involving ballot harvesting, specifically citing 43,000 mail-in votes for opponent Nithya Raman from "naked drug addict zombies" in Skid Row.
  • Pratt claims the ballot count was manipulated by separating ballots from envelopes, destroying the chain of custody and preventing audits.
  • He asserts that DSA (Democratic Socialists of America) operatives are paid to harvest ballots by knocking on doors and collecting votes without the voter's ID, a practice he deems illegal elsewhere but legal in California.

• Specific Grievances Regarding LA & Wildfires

  • Pratt details the destruction of his home in the Pacific Palisades wildfires, blaming the LADWP for empty reservoirs and the state park for failing to clear "60 years of dead fuels."
  • He claims a $500,000 fire break could have saved the community but was not executed due to state regulations protecting "milk vetch" plants.
  • He accuses Mayor Bass of negligence during a warehouse fire in Boyle Heights where 85 million pounds of rotting meat sat for five weeks.
  • Pratt highlights the "upside-down" regulatory environment where legal street vendors (protected by a 2018 bill) compete with taxed small businesses, causing the latter to close.

• Election Strategy & Outlook

  • Hilton and Pratt agree the election hinges on voter turnout, specifically urging 200,000 registered Republicans to vote.
  • They argue that the "machine" relies on ballot harvesting and mail-in ballots to manufacture margins, but this can be countered by in-person voting.
  • Pratt suggests that if Republicans employ legal ballot harvesting tactics, they could potentially overcome the current deficit.
  • Both candidates frame the upcoming election as a "now or never" moment to prevent a "stampede" of businesses and residents leaving California.
  • Hilton rejects national political framing, insisting the election must remain focused on local California issues like cost of living and safety.