Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton is now reportedly making government accountability and affordability central themes of his campaign’s closing argument to California voters, promising that his first official action as governor would be an aggressive investigation into what he describes as widespread fraud and mismanagement under the state’s current leadership.
According to a planned executive order obtained by The California Post, Hilton intends to launch a broad review of alleged fraud, waste, abuse, corruption, and mismanagement involving state programs and spending. The former television host and political commentator argues that California taxpayers may have lost as much as $425 billion through failures in oversight and accountability.
“The potential loss of hundreds of billions of taxpayer dollars through fraud, waste, abuse, corruption and mismanagement represents one of the greatest public integrity failures in California history,” Hilton wrote in the proposed order.
At the center of the initiative would be a new California Taxpayer Fraud Strike Force, a statewide effort that Hilton proposes funding with $100 million. The unit would focus on investigations involving homelessness spending, Medi-Cal, public assistance programs, state contracts, and concerns previously identified by auditors and oversight agencies.
The proposed task force’s first major assignment would be examining whether actions or failures to act by current or former state officials contributed to the continuation of fraud or improper expenditures despite repeated warnings. Hilton’s executive order specifically references former Governor Gavin Newsom and former Attorney General Rob Bonta.
According to the document, investigators would review whether conduct during the past five years could constitute what Hilton describes as “criminal negligence.”
The announcement arrives just days before California voters head to the polls, as candidates make their final case in what has become a closely watched governor’s race.
Beyond his focus on government oversight, Hilton has also centered his campaign on lowering the cost of living. During a weekend appearance on “Hot Mics with Billy Bush,” he promoted a package of proposals he calls “Cal-Affordable,” which he says is designed to leave more money in the pockets of Californians.
“Your first $100,000 tax free, $3 gas, electric bills cut in half, a home you can afford to buy,” Hilton said while discussing the proposal.
Energy costs have become a major issue across California, where residents pay roughly 33 cents per kilowatt-hour for electricity, nearly twice the national average according to federal energy data cited in the article.
Hilton attributes much of that burden to the state’s clean energy policies, including Renewable Energy Credits and the Renewable Portfolio Standard. He has pledged to eliminate wind and solar mandates and subsidies while expanding the use of natural gas and nuclear power, arguing that such changes would significantly reduce electricity costs.
The candidate has also unveiled a plan aimed at reducing gasoline prices to $3 per gallon. His proposal includes eliminating environmental programs such as the cap-and-trade system, suspending the Low Carbon Fuel Standard, cutting the state gas tax in half, and expanding domestic oil production.
Housing affordability remains another major issue in the race. Hilton argues that Democratic policies have made home construction unnecessarily expensive and has pledged to reduce regulatory barriers and fees that he believes discourage development. He also supports accelerating approvals for starter-home projects.
As Election Day approaches, polling remains divided. A recent California Post survey showed Hilton tied with Democrat Tom Steyer at 25%, while Xavier Becerra trailed at 19%. Other polls, however, have placed Becerra in the lead.
The outcome will ultimately be decided by voters, who face a choice between continuing California’s current political direction or electing a Republican governor for the first time in more than twenty years.
