Steve Hilton for Governor - Thank You, California - Election Night, Tuesday, November 3, 2026 - Vote Watch

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Editorial: Rio Dell Times endorsed Steve Hilton for Governor.

Latest • Election Night, Tuesday, Nov. 3
Hilton conceded in Garden Grove after the Associated Press projected Democrat Xavier Becerra the winner (NBC4; FOX 11). “The change we hoped for may be delayed, but the change is coming. Our fight goes on,” he said, and, “I do wish Xavier Becerra well” (Hilton campaign).

Updates log (newest first; click to open)

Tuesday, November 3, 2026 (Election Night) — as of 10:00 p.m. PT

New video (3:32), “Thank You, California”: real footage only — Hilton’s concession speech in Garden Grove (NBC4 and the campaign’s livestream), praise from Carl DeMaio, Sheriff Chad Bianco and Jared Allen, and the Huntington Beach rally and Compton $3-gas stop.
The call: the Associated Press projected Becerra the winner shortly after polls closed (FOX 11; EdSource); NBC News and ABC News also projected Becerra (NBC News; ABC7). No vote totals are reported here; counting continues.
Concession: NBC4 reported that Hilton conceded (NBC4). “It looks like we didn’t win this time,” he said, and “we can all be incredibly proud of what we have built together” (NBC4). “We have a new governor in California. I know it’s not the one you wished for, but I do wish Xavier Becerra well”; “this is not a blue state, this is not a red state, this is the golden state” (Hilton campaign livestream). He set goals of ending the Democratic supermajority in 2028 and electing a Republican governor in 2030, and thanked his wife, Rachel, his team, the “golden ticket” candidates, Spencer Pratt and Carl DeMaio (Hilton campaign livestream).
Praise during the campaign: Carl DeMaio, chairman of Reform California, said June 11, “We’re gonna be lucky to get Steve Hilton as governor” (Reform California). Sheriff Chad Bianco, in an Oct. 27 video endorsing Hilton: “We absolutely need Steve Hilton to win this race for governor” (via Reform California). NFL’s Jared Allen: “That’s why I’m voting for Steve Hilton” (Hilton on X).
Becerra: in his victory speech in Sacramento, “We fought, and we won. Thank you for making tonight’s victory possible” (NBC4). ABC7 noted he will be the first Latino elected governor in state history (ABC7).

Tuesday, November 3, 2026 (Election Day) — as of 10:50 a.m. PT

New video (2:59), Election Day: real footage only — the Huntington Beach pier rally (CBS News Sacramento, ABC7 and the campaign’s video), the $3-gas stop in Compton (ABC7, NBC4 and the campaign’s video), Hilton walking a supporter to the polls, and NBC4’s studio interview, with the cow breaks.
Huntington Beach (Mon., Nov. 2): “I know the polls say that I’ve got no chance at winning this election, but these crowds tell a different story,” and, “I still think we can win this election” (CBS News Sacramento). Hilton posted that “thousands showed up” (Hilton; his count).
Compton (Mon.): $3 gas; a voter told ABC7 it was his first time voting Republican (ABC7). Hilton to NBC4: “here in California, we’ve had one party running everything for 16 years, and… it’s time for change” (NBC4). NBC4 reported he would spend Election Day in Huntington Beach talking with voters.
The President posted on Truth Social this morning: “TO THE GREAT PEOPLE OF CALIFORNIA, GET OUT AND VOTE FOR: – Steve Hilton for Governor…” (Truth Social).
Becerra: after an Irvine rally Monday with Gov. Newsom and Rep. Dave Min, he is in Sacramento for Election Day and night (NBC4; ABC7). On roads he told ABC7, “We’ll make sure that the tax code works so that everyone in California is paying their fair share”; ABC7 notes he has not said he supports a mileage tax (ABC7). This morning he posted, “TODAY IS THE DAY. Polls are open” (Becerra).
Turnout: more than 6 million ballots had been returned statewide, per ABC7. AI ads: one new (pizza delivery); see the list below. No results are reported here; polls close at 8 p.m. PT.

Monday, November 2, 2026 — as of 9:55 a.m. PT

New video (2:56), the final push: real footage only — KTLA’s one-on-one, CBS News Sacramento, FOX40, ABC10, ABC7, Pacific Palisades, Stephen A. Smith, the Rams–Chargers tailgate and Hilton’s Sunday-night message, with the cow breaks.
Sacramento (Fri., Oct. 30): “We’ve only got a few days left, a few days to save California” (CBS News Sacramento). Outside a food bank he said, “You don’t have these mass, long-term homeless encampments, that’s what we’re going to remove” (ABC10).
KTLA (Micah Ohlman, Oct. 30): “It’s time for something different. Just try it. Just try it for four years,” and “the polls aren’t votes” (KTLA).
Halloween (Sat., Oct. 31): wearing a Becerra mask at a Trunk or Treat in Highland Park, he mocked Becerra’s openness to a mileage tax. Becerra said roads must be paid for and, “I’m not gonna say exactly how it will be” (LA Times).
Sunday (Nov. 1): the Rams–Chargers tailgate at SoFi Stadium, then Pacific Palisades: “This is not a blue state. It is not a red state. It’s the Golden State” (LA Times). He said the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy fined homeowners for fire precautions and that its leaders “will be fired when I’m governor” (Hilton; his claim). Former NFL star Jared Allen said he is moving back to California and voting for Hilton (Hilton).
Day one: in a video posted this morning he lists an order suspending AB 32 cap-and-invest for cheaper gas, cutting Medi-Cal fraud to fund his tax cut, and naming the first 20 homeless recovery-center sites (Hilton).
Poll: ActiVote (Oct. 17–31): Becerra 63.2%, Hilton 36.8% (ActiVote). AI ads: three new; see the list below. Becerra: new interviews with KQED (Oct. 30) and 10News (Nov. 1); he rallied in Hollywood Sunday with Gov. Newsom, Sen. Padilla and former Vice President Harris (NBC4).

Friday, October 30, 2026 — as of 9:45 a.m. PT

New video (3:05): real footage only — the Fresno rally and $3 gas in Sanger, ABC7 Los Angeles, Westminster, Los Angeles and Altadena, with the cow breaks.
Fresno (Thu., Oct. 29): At a Woodward Park rally Hilton said, “When I’m governor, I will be the greatest champion for our farmers and agriculture that this state has ever seen,” and Fresno City Councilmember Nick Richardson spoke in support (ABC30). Earlier he offered $3 gas to the first 150 cars at Loma Vista Travel Plaza in Sanger and pitched abolishing the DMV and a $73 registration cap (FOX26; GV Wire). Tonight: Sacramento (Sacramento Bee).
Mileage tax: Asked on KCRA’s California Politics 360 about a per-mile road fee, Becerra said, “Everything should be on the table” (KCRA). Hilton told the California Post, “Now we know that with Xavier Becerra as governor, you’ll pay an extra $1,000 a year just for driving your car” (NY Post); the $1,000 figure is his estimate.
ABC7 Los Angeles (Josh Haskell): Hilton’s closing message is that it’s OK to vote Republican; on the President he said, “I’m not going to take orders from the White House, I’m not going to take orders from Sacramento” (ABC7).
Los Angeles (Wed., Oct. 28): a news conference in Altadena with fire survivors and HPP Cares, then a Van Nuys rally (NY Post). Westminster (Tue., Oct. 27): a rally at the Asian Garden Mall in Little Saigon (NTD).
Ads: a new AI-made “California refugees” ad (see the list below) and a “Wake up California” spot in which Hilton walks through downtown Los Angeles, intercut with footage of rioters (Sacramento Bee; TNND).
Polls: Berkeley IGS/LA Times (Oct. 19–25): Becerra 61%, Hilton 34% (LA Times). PPIC (Oct. 16–22): 61%–37% (PPIC).
Becerra: new interviews with KCRA (Oct. 28) and the San Francisco Chronicle (Oct. 30); see the list below. Added to Endorsements: the President’s Oct. 22 Truth Social post urging Californians to vote for Hilton.

Tuesday, October 27, 2026 — as of 11:15 a.m. PT

New video (3:03): real footage only — Oceanside, $3 gas in San Diego, Norco and Los Angeles magazine, with the cow breaks.
Oceanside (Mon., Oct. 26): Hilton spoke for about an hour; his biggest cheer came for “We will stop the sewage from Mexico one way or another,” per 10News.
Tour: Westminster (Asian Garden Mall) tonight, 6 p.m.; Los Angeles Oct. 28; Central Valley Oct. 29; Sacramento Oct. 30; Pacific Palisades Nov. 1 (Hilton).
$3 gas in Miramar (Mon.): for the first 150 cars (FOX 5/KUSI).
Poll: Becerra 55%, Hilton 39.3% (California Post/McLaughlin, Oct. 17–20, via the NY Post).
AI ads: three new ones; see the list below. Becerra: no new interview or debate news.

Friday, October 23, 2026 — as of 10:15 p.m. PT

Video touch-up (3:00): the cowbell is now Steve Wolff’s own recording, and each moo now plays complete, start to finish. Clips and order unchanged.

Friday, October 23, 2026 — as of 9:30 p.m. PT

New upbeat cut (2:59): opens with Hilton’s cow-shower visit to a Hilmar dairy, then Real Time with Bill Maher (“polls, not votes”; “we absolutely have a shot”), Overtime on the DMV, Joe Rogan’s “I really hope you win,” and FOX26 Fresno. Short cow, calf and horse breaks with real moos, cowbells and a whinny (public-domain/CC0, credited below). The Becerra clip moved out of the video; his interviews stay listed below. The long fair-use text is now one line.

Friday, October 23, 2026 — as of 8:45 p.m. PT (evening update)

Video re-cut (2:54): now leads with Hilton on HBO’s Real Time with Bill Maher (panel and Overtime, Oct. 23), followed by his FOX26 interview (Oct. 22) and Becerra at KBAK’s Bakersfield rally report (Oct. 22). Dropped: the campaign ad, the Rogan clip, the housing-fees, ABC7 and Pomona clips and the older Becerra clips (all still linked below). Clip list below.
Real Time with Bill Maher, HBO (Fri., Oct. 23, 7–8 p.m. PT): Hilton and Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (D) were the panel; former White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt was the one-on-one guest (HBO listing via The Futon Critic; Real Time on X). Maher asked, “Why can you get red votes being a blue guy, and you can’t get blue votes being a red guy in this state?” Beshear said it starts with being “less political and more pragmatic,” that “it helps having a less partisan background” and that “it’s a little tougher if you’ve been a Fox News host” (clip posted on X by Blue Georgia). Hilton said, “you’re talking about polls, not votes, and we still have people voting right now in California,” that people tell him, “I’m a lifelong Democrat, but this year I’m voting for you because we’ve got to have some balance,” and that “it’s not healthy to have one party rule for so long.” Asked whether he can make up 25 points in two weeks, he said, “there’s another poll today that was half that, and there was one last week that was six points” (Hilton’s figures; he did not name the polls) (clip posted on X by Hilton).
Overtime with Bill Maher (posted on YouTube by Real Time, Oct. 23): On abolishing the DMV, Hilton said most states, “about 40,” don’t have one, that the work can be done “through other existing county offices” and online, and that his plan would cap vehicle registration at “the basic registration fee, $73 a year”; Beshear said Kentucky’s regional driver’s license offices are its DMV, and Maher said it “sounds like you’re just moving the deck chairs.” Both men backed nuclear power; Hilton said a California law prevents new plants. On a poll naming corruption as voters’ top issue, Hilton said he sees “a machine in Sacramento” sustained by government unions, teachers unions and special interests, and said unions “bribe the politicians” to pass laws that block housing (his claim) (Real Time on YouTube).
CalMatters (via KVPR, Oct. 23): In a report on water policy by Rachel Becker, Hilton told CalMatters, “We can and should have abundant water in California, and there’s no reason that we don’t other than bad policy and mismanagement.” CalMatters reports that Becerra “offers no specific proposals on water” (KVPR/CalMatters).
Becerra: FOX 11 Los Angeles posted an in-depth interview on Oct. 21 in which, per FOX 11, he outlines his plan to “do more, do better” (FOX 11; newly found, added to the interview list). No new Becerra interview found from Oct. 23.

Friday, October 23, 2026 — as of 9:15 a.m. PT

Video re-cut (2:58): adds Hilton’s FOX26 interview (Oct. 22), his campaign’s “people experiencing voting Republican” ad (Oct. 22), a Joe Rogan clip Hilton posted (Oct. 22) and Becerra at KBAK’s Bakersfield rally report (Oct. 22). Dropped: Golden Gate tolls video, Univision forum clip (Hilton) and the KTVU and KRON4 clips. Clip list below.
FOX26 (KMPH, Fresno), Madison Macay (Thu., Oct. 22; posted 9:44 p.m. PT): Asked about the Emerson poll, Hilton said, “I don’t think anyone serious thinks that’s what’s really going on in California. We’ll see on election day. I think Emerson might have a lot of explaining to do.” He said, “while it’s an uphill battle … we can still win this election,” and, asked what he would have done differently, “I wish we’d had more money. That’s the honest truth.” Asked whether the President’s primary endorsement cost Republicans a chance at two candidates on the November ballot, he said, “Oh, no, that was never realistic.” FOX26 reports he said he did not seek the endorsement but was honored to receive it. On ICE detentions in the Central Valley, including cases FOX26 reported of people who say they had valid work permits, he said, “The first thing I would do on this issue is actually phone Tom Homan, who I know personally,” and that federal operations should not run “without the governor knowing exactly what’s happening.” FOX26 says the full 20-minute interview is on its YouTube channel (FOX26).
Real Time (Fri., Oct. 23): HBO’s show lists Hilton as a guest tonight with Karoline Leavitt and Gov. Andy Beshear; Hilton reposted the announcement (Real Time on X).
Prison closures (Thu., Oct. 22): Gov. Gavin Newsom signed an executive order for an interagency effort to carry his public-safety strategy into the next administration (Governor’s office). Hilton replied: “Thanks but we got this. As the next governor I will reverse your insane and destructive prison closure program so we can actually keep dangerous criminals behind bars and stop the overcrowding of county jails” (Hilton on X).
New ad (Thu., Oct. 22): Hilton posted a “Just Try It!” ad set in a support-group scene; characters describe losing homes in the Woolsey and Palisades fires and being called “a fascist,” and one says, “We’re just people experiencing voting Republican” (Hilton on X). The characters are played by actors; Hilton does not appear.
Joe Rogan clip (Thu., Oct. 22): Hilton posted, “Proud to have Joe in my corner. 12 days to go,” with a clip in which Rogan tells him, “I really hope you win … I think you have a chance” (Hilton on X). The clip is from Hilton’s Aug. 19 appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience, episode #2542 (Apple Podcasts).
Also from Hilton on X: a town hall on animal rescue today, Oct. 23, 11 a.m.–12:30 p.m., at Pawradise Park, 435 Molino St., Los Angeles (Oct. 23); a post saying Becerra plans to say no to the federal Education Freedom Tax Credit, which Hilton says would cost California students $31 billion (Oct. 22); a post on a federal case over a $2 billion medical fraud ring in Los Angeles, in which he says he would fund his tax plan by cutting fraud (Oct. 22); and a post quoting a California Post street video in which Los Angeles residents did not recognize Becerra (Oct. 22). Figures and descriptions in these posts are Hilton’s; we did not check them.
Becerra: at a Bakersfield rally Thursday night with congressional candidate Randy Villegas and long-term care workers, he criticized Rep. David Valadao’s vote for H.R. 1, saying it “gutted a trillion dollars out of health care and sent the money to tax cuts for billionaires and corporations,” per KBAK (KBAK/KBFX). He posted video of a Coachella Valley event with Assembly candidate Dr. Ida Obeso-Martinez (Oct. 22), urged both sides in the SEIU Local 1000 talks to “negotiate in good faith” (Oct. 22) and wrote that he defended no-copay cancer screenings as HHS secretary (Oct. 23). No new Becerra sit-down interview found since Oct. 21.
Polls: no new head-to-head public poll found since Emerson (Oct. 21).

Thursday, October 22, 2026 — as of 9:45 a.m. PT

Video re-cut (2:56): adds Hilton’s housing-fees video (Oct. 22), his ABC7 interview (Oct. 19, aired Oct. 21), his Pomona $3-gas video (Oct. 21) and Becerra’s ABC7 remarks (Oct. 19, aired Oct. 21). Dropped: KPIX, ballot video, Skid Row ad, Pratt ad, ABC10 (Oct. 14) and ABC10 Indio. Clip list below.
ABC7 (KGO), Monica Madden (story posted Wed. evening, Oct. 21): In a Monday interview, asked whether having no encampments in California is realistic, Hilton said, “Yes, it is” and “It’s not just possible. It’s essential.” ABC7 reports he proposes up to 30 recovery centers of about 5,000 people each, pointed to a site on unused federal land near MCAS Miramar as a model, would end funding for Housing First and harm-reduction programs, and would back law enforcement for people who refuse help. He said, “We’re not talking about building apartment buildings. This is temporary shelter,” and blamed “one-party rule.” ABC7 notes he has not given a statewide construction timeline or cost estimate. At a Monday East Bay housing event Becerra said, “We have to do everything we can to prevent them from falling into homelessness,” called for clearing encampments with shelter and treatment available, and said groups that get state money “and you didn’t do anything, we’re going to have to close you down”; ABC7 says he gave no first-year numerical target (ABC7 News; ABC7 on X).
Pomona $3 gas (Wed., Oct. 21): Hilton posted videos from a Pomona gas station offering gas at $3 a gallon (“POMONA: $3.00 gas is on me!”); he wrote that he had brought $3 gas to Crenshaw the week before and that the Pomona line “was wrapped around the block” (video; announcement; voters). Line sizes are Hilton’s descriptions. He listed stops that day in Mission Viejo, Pomona, downtown Los Angeles and Bakersfield (Hilton on X).
Housing fees (Thu., Oct. 22): Hilton posted that government fees and regulations add about $200,000 to the price of an average new California home and that as governor he would cap “impact fees” at $50,000, which he said would take $150,000 off the price (Hilton on X). These are his figures; we did not check them.
Also from Hilton on X: a video of voters, described by Hilton as Democrats, questioning him on homelessness, schools and electric bills (Oct. 21), and a video Hilton describes as a whistleblower account about a migrant-child shelter in Pomona; these are his campaign’s allegations, not verified findings (Oct. 22).
Becerra: posted an endorsement video from state Sen. Lola Smallwood-Cuevas (Oct. 21) and a get-out-the-vote video (Oct. 21). A Working Families Party listing shows a Becerra get-out-the-vote rally in Riverside today, Oct. 22, at 4 p.m. (Mobilize).
Polls: no new head-to-head public poll found since Emerson (Oct. 21). KTLA reported the Emerson numbers Wednesday (KTLA on X).

Wednesday, October 21, 2026 — as of 9:45 a.m. PT

Video re-cut (3:05): adds Hilton’s Golden Gate tolls video (Oct. 21), Univision 34 forum clips posted by Hilton and by Becerra (Oct. 20; Spanish, with our English subtitles), KTVU and KPIX (Oct. 20). Older clips dropped. Clip list below.
Univision 34 forum (Tue., Oct. 20): “Los Latinos Preguntan: Los Candidatos Responden,” moderated by Gabriela Tessier and Octavio Valdez, with recorded questions from community members. Per Univision’s summary, Hilton said “Como gobernador, tienes que seguir la ley” (“As governor, you have to follow the law”), cited the state’s SB 54, and said immigration enforcement is the federal government’s job; proposed suspending “hidden” gas taxes and raising in-state oil production to reach $3 gas; said he would end the homelessness crisis by the end of his first year; and said success would mean people no longer leaving California. Becerra said he would cut red tape and treat housing as an emergency, freeze energy and home-insurance bills, keep health care for people “como mi madre o mi papá” (“like my mother or my father”), and would not take part in raids on working immigrant families; asked about reporting on unaccompanied migrant children, he pointed to his testimony to Congress (Univision; La Opinión; full program on YouTube).
After the forum: Hilton posted his housing answer and wrote, “I would have loved to hear Becerra’s plan. Too bad he refused to appear on stage with me and debate” (clip; post). Becerra posted clips of his answers (health care; Trump).
Hilton interviews (Oct. 20): KTVU’s Greg Lee — Hilton put the cost of his income-tax cut at about $25 billion, to be paid for by canceling high-speed rail, cutting Medi-Cal fraud and a 5% efficiency saving; proposed pausing AI in classrooms for about six months; and said, “I’m not going to take orders from the White House” (KTVU via FOX 11). KPIX’s Max Darrow — Hilton called the ActiVote poll “a completely made-up poll” (CBS San Francisco). KESQ’s John White — full studio interview (KESQ). Newsmax’s Finnerty — Hilton urged high turnout to make the result “too big to rig” (Newsmax via Yahoo).
Golden Gate tolls (Wed., Oct. 21): Hilton posted that the bridge’s construction costs were paid off in 1971 and that he would end tolls on bridges already paid for and fund maintenance from the state budget (Hilton on X). This is his proposal; we did not check the figures.
“Assembly Line” ad: GV Wire reports a $1 million, 30-second AI-generated Hilton ad on Becerra’s handling of migrant children at HHS. Becerra spokesman Jonathan Underland called it “AI slop.” GV Wire says a 2024 inspector-general report corroborates the campaign’s numbers, though failing to account for children in tracking systems “does not necessarily establish that they are missing” (GV Wire, Oct. 21).
Polls: Emerson College (Oct. 17–19, 1,000 likely voters, ±3.1): Becerra 60%, Hilton 33%, 7% undecided (Emerson). Call the Map average: Becerra +20.8 (Oct. 21).

Tuesday, October 20, 2026 — as of 12:45 p.m. PT

Video re-cut (3:04): adds Spencer Pratt’s “Just Try It!” ad for Hilton (Oct. 19) and Hilton’s ballot video (Oct. 20); other clips shortened. Clip list below.
Pratt ad (Mon., Oct. 19, 9:39 a.m. PT): Spencer Pratt, the former Los Angeles mayoral candidate, posted a 53-second ad: actors in a lounge urge a nervous friend to “just try it,” and the scene reveals a ballot marked for Steve Hilton. It ends with “Just try it! Steve Hilton for Governor” and “Ad paid for by Steve Hilton for Governor 2026.” Pratt wrote: “Steve Hilton said he’d buy me a gallon of gas if I produced a viral ad for his campaign… It’s time to vote different.” As of 12:30 p.m. PT Tuesday, X showed 295,376 video views, 493,421 post impressions, 49,597 likes and 10,961 reposts (Pratt on X). Hilton does not appear in the ad. Neither the post nor the ad carries an AI label; Hilton told CalMatters the earlier “Just Try It” ads used real actors and were not AI-generated (CalMatters, Oct. 6).
Hilton on X (Tue., Oct. 20): a video of him returning his ballot, saying “the way we’re gonna clean up California is not a truck like this. It’s by voting” (ballot video), and a video with a Los Angeles teacher on reading scores (schools video). The figures in the schools post are Hilton’s.
Becerra on ABC10 (published Oct. 20): in a sit-down with Alex Bell, Becerra said he would declare a housing emergency, add permit “shot clocks” and expand down-payment aid; said he opposes cutting the gas tax because it pays for road and bridge repairs; and said he would clear encampments on state property such as freeway overpasses. Bell said she had requested the interview since July and was given 10 minutes (ABC10; YouTube). Listed under Becerra interviews.
Polls: no new public poll since this morning’s update.

Tuesday, October 20, 2026 — as of 9:30 a.m. PT

New video (3:12), shorter on text: Hilton’s Skid Row TV ad (Oct. 20), his Oct. 19 videos on homeless recovery centers and San Francisco, his $3-gas event video (posted Oct. 17), Fox Business (Oct. 16), the Ankler (Oct. 15) and ABC10 (Oct. 14); Becerra on KRON4 and ABC10 (Oct. 19) and ABC10 (Oct. 10).
Skid Row ad (Tue., Oct. 20): Hilton posted that the campaign spent $1 million to air the unedited Skid Row video statewide (Hilton on X; ad on YouTube). The ad-buy figure is the campaign’s.
Letter to DHS (Mon., Oct. 19): Hilton wrote to Secretary Markwayne Mullin seeking records, including the laptop of former contractor supervisor Tarek “Joey” Kadourah, and wrote that the campaign was told Homeland Security Investigations is examining the matter. The Post reports the letter offers no independent confirmation of that and does not establish that the allegations were substantiated. Becerra spokesman Jonathan Underland: Hilton is “inventing Q-Anon brainrot to distract from a weak policy platform” (New York Post; Hilton on X).
On the trail: Hilton campaigned in San Francisco on Oct. 19 (Hilton on X) and on Oct. 20 posted a plan to expand paid family leave (Hilton on X). Becerra toured an affordable-housing project near the El Cerrito BART station with Assemblymember Buffy Wicks (KRON4), pitched his “Power Hour” free-midday-electricity proposal at an Indio rally (ABC10; campaign plan) and met with Black leaders from across Southern California (Becerra on X).
Money and visibility: Becerra has raised $40.5 million and Hilton $29 million, per state filings cited by the Los Angeles Times (Oct. 19), which reports Becerra has stepped up public events and begun TV ads as mail ballots arrive.
Polls: no new public poll since ActiVote (Oct. 16). Call the Map average unchanged at Becerra +19.6 (Oct. 20). Berkeley IGS says it is polling Oct. 19–25.
Becerra interviews: EFE interview published Oct. 20; listed below.

Sunday, October 18, 2026 — as of 10:45 p.m. PT

Video re-cut: new clips from Hilton’s Ankler (Oct. 15), Clay Travis & Buck Sexton (Oct. 14), NewsNation (Oct. 13) and Fox News (Oct. 10) interviews, and Becerra’s ABC7 (Oct. 12) and ABC10 (Oct. 10) interviews.
Homelessness plan (Sat., Oct. 17): Hilton said every encampment in the state would be cleared by Dec. 31, 2027, using “Homeless Recovery Centers” modeled on the Sunbreak Ranch project in San Diego County (10News/CNS; Next News Network). These are the campaign’s plans and figures. Becerra’s campaign had not responded when the City News Service story ran; his plan is on his campaign site.
Rally (Sun., Oct. 18, 11 a.m.–1 p.m.): Grand Century Mall, Little Saigon, 1111 Story Road, San Jose (Santa Clara County Republican Party listing; event video, Vietnamese-language channel).
Polls: ActiVote (Oct. 16) Becerra 62.8%, Hilton 37.2%; Manhattan Institute (Sept. 24–Oct. 1) 55%–38%. Hilton’s own campaign poll (Oct. 1–2) showed 45.7%–40.1%.
Becerra: Tavis Smiley interview Oct. 16 (audio); ABC7 one-on-one Oct. 12; ABC10 stop Oct. 10.

Hilton’s AI-made ads (newest first; the eight newest carry the campaign’s on-screen AI disclosure)

Nov. 2 — “Pizza delivery under Becerra’s mileage tax”: “Better make it a small” (watch)
Oct. 31 — Halloween “clown”: an AI Becerra in clown makeup, against his mileage-tax idea; about 127,000 impressions on X by Nov. 2 (watch)
Oct. 31 — “Your morning commute in Becerra’s California”: suited commuters on tandem bikes (watch)
Oct. 30 — “Californians need a VACATION”: a family-road-trip spoof on costs (watch)
Oct. 28 — “Bring the California refugees home”: mock-sad appeal to bring back Californians who moved to Idaho, Nashville and Dallas; about 905,000 impressions on X by Oct. 30; PJ Media called it “half-joking, half-serious” (watch; PJ Media)
Oct. 26 — “Power Hour” spoof of Becerra’s two-free-hours-of-electricity plan (watch)
Oct. 25 — High-speed rail as a “Government Failures National Monument”; $3 gas under Hilton, $8 under Becerra (his claims); about 600,000 views (watch)
Oct. 24 — Marionette: Becerra on strings; Hilton says OpenAI and Anthropic fund him (his claim) (watch)
Oct. 16 — Migrant children released under Becerra’s HHS; a $1 million buy, per GV Wire (watch)
Oct. 11 — Spanish-language girls’ sports ad with an AI Becerra (per the NY Post)
Sept. 1 — “The Odyssey” Trojan horse (watch) • July 24 — “California Colosseum” (watch) • July 23 — “The People vs The Machine” (watch)

Reaction: Becerra’s campaign calls them “AI slop” (ABC10, GV Wire). GV Wire says an Inspector General report backs the Oct. 16 ad’s numbers, though untracked children are not necessarily missing. Sen. Adam Schiff revived his AI Ads Act after “The Machine”; Hilton called it an effort to “silence criticism” (ABC10). The NY Post featured the rail ad; CalMatters says his try-everything tactics don’t appear to have moved the polls much.

Interviews: Steve Hilton (R) (newest first)

Date	Outlet / program	Notes	Link
Nov. 3	HILTON (R) Concession speech, Garden Grove — Hilton campaign livestream (YouTube)	Full speech, about 15 minutes, near the end of the stream • in the video	watch
Nov. 3	HILTON (R) NBC4 Los Angeles — concession speech, Garden Grove	About 8 minutes of the speech; speech, not a sit-down • in the video	watch
Nov. 3	HILTON (R) FOX 11 Los Angeles — Election Day one-on-one	About 13 minutes on his plans	watch
Nov. 3	HILTON (R) ABC10 — final appeal on election night	Affordability proposals; not a sit-down	watch
Nov. 3	HILTON (R) Fox News — mileage-tax remarks	“I will veto the mileage tax”; speech clip, not a sit-down	watch
Nov. 2	HILTON (R) CBS News Sacramento (KOVR) — Darrielle Fair, Huntington Beach rally	Polls, crowds, “just vote for change”; not a sit-down • in the video	watch
Nov. 2	HILTON (R) ABC7 Los Angeles (KABC) — Liz Nagy, final push	Huntington Beach rally; not a sit-down • in the video	watch
Nov. 2	HILTON (R) ABC7 Los Angeles (KABC) — Jory Rand, Compton $3 gas	Gas prices, a first-time Republican voter; not a sit-down • in the video	watch
Nov. 2	HILTON (R) NBC4 Los Angeles — Hetty Chang, Compton	One-party rule, “time for change”; not a sit-down • in the video	watch
Nov. 2	HILTON (R) Fox Business — The Evening Edit report	Speech excerpts: oil, $3 gas, $73 registration, no mileage tax; not a sit-down	watch
Nov. 1	HILTON (R) NBC4 Los Angeles — studio interview	About 5 minutes: his final pitch to voters • in the video	watch
Nov. 1	HILTON (R) ABC7 Los Angeles (KABC) — Jericho Tran report	Pacific Palisades, small businesses and fire permits; not a sit-down • in the video	watch
Oct. 31	HILTON (R) FOX40 (KTXL, Sacramento) — Eitan Wallace report	“Let’s just try it”; not a sit-down • in the video	watch
Oct. 30	HILTON (R) KTLA 5 — Micah Ohlman one-on-one	About 31 minutes: why he’s running, polls, homelessness, energy, the DMV • in the video	watch
Oct. 30	HILTON (R) NBC News — Gadi Schwartz	About 8 minutes: his priorities for the state	watch
Oct. 30	HILTON (R) ABC10 (Sacramento) — Sacramento stop	Homeless encampments; not a sit-down • in the video	watch
Oct. 30	HILTON (R) CBS News Sacramento (KOVR) — North Sacramento stop	Turnout; not a sit-down • in the video	watch
Oct. 29	HILTON (R) ABC7 Los Angeles (KABC) — Josh Haskell one-on-one	Closing message, homeless recovery centers, the President, $3 gas • in the video	watch
Oct. 29	HILTON (R) ABC30 (KFSN) — Ana Torrea, Fresno rally report	Agriculture, gas taxes; not a sit-down • in the video	watch
Oct. 29	HILTON (R) FOX26 (KMPH) — Hailey Milasich, Sanger $3 gas report	DMV, $73 registration cap; not a sit-down • in the video	watch
Oct. 28	HILTON (R) Straight Shooter with Stephen A. (SiriusXM POTUS) — Stephen A. Smith	Running as a Republican in California, his plans; posted on YouTube Nov. 1 • in the video	watch
Oct. 28	HILTON (R) AgNet West — AgNet News Hour, Nick Papagni	About 48 minutes: water, farm labor, energy costs	listen
Oct. 26	HILTON (R) San Francisco Chronicle — video interview	His plans; the Chronicle questions whether he could carry them out (found Oct. 30)	watch
Oct. 26	HILTON (R) Los Angeles Magazine — 28 Questions	In-N-Out, L.A. traffic, Smokey Robinson • in the video	watch
Oct. 23	HILTON (R) HBO Real Time with Bill Maher — panel with Gov. Andy Beshear, plus Overtime	Polls, Democratic voters, one-party rule; DMV, nuclear power, corruption (Overtime) • in the video • full episode on HBO Max	Overtime • clip
Oct. 23	HILTON (R) CalMatters (via KVPR) — Rachel Becker (print)	Water policy: storage, desalination, recycling	read
Oct. 22	HILTON (R) FOX26 (KMPH, Fresno) — Madison Macay	Polls, fundraising, Trump endorsement, Central Valley ICE detentions (20-minute interview; full video on FOX26 YouTube) • in the video	watch
Oct. 21	HILTON (R) ABC7 News (KGO) — Monica Madden (interviewed Mon., Oct. 19)	Homelessness: encampments, recovery centers, Housing First • in the video	watch
Oct. 20	HILTON (R) N+ Univision 34 — forum Los Latinos Preguntan (Tessier, Valdez)	30-minute interview in Spanish: housing, gas, taxes, homelessness, immigration • in the video (clip Hilton posted)	watch
Oct. 20	HILTON (R) KTVU FOX 2 — Greg Lee (aired on FOX 11)	About 15 minutes: tax plan, AI in schools, voter rolls, immigration • in the video	watch
Oct. 20	HILTON (R) KPIX CBS News Bay Area — Max Darrow, Marin Headlands	Campaign stop and short interview: polls, Trump endorsement • in the video	watch
Oct. 20	HILTON (R) KESQ News Channel 3 (Palm Springs) — John White	Full studio interview	watch
Oct. 20	HILTON (R) Newsmax — Finnerty	Turnout and the election system (Newsmax article)	read
Oct. 17	HILTON (R) Fox News — Jesse Watters Primetime	Tech, Elon Musk and California leadership	watch
Oct. 17	HILTON (R) Times of San Diego (profile with interview)	Taxes, housing, homelessness	read
Oct. 16	HILTON (R) Fox Business — Varney & Co.	Prop. 40 and his tax plan • in the video	watch
Oct. 15	HILTON (R) The Ankler — Ankler Agenda podcast	Hollywood plan and the business climate • in the video	watch/listen
Oct. 14	HILTON (R) The Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Show	Taxes, polls, voters	watch/listen
Oct. 14	HILTON (R) ABC10 (Sacramento): candidate sit-down	About 21 minutes: taxes, gas, housing • in the video	watch/listen
Oct. 13	HILTON (R) NewsNation Town Hall	Affordability	watch/listen
Oct. 12	HILTON (R) Newsweek — The 1600	Full interview, about 54 minutes	watch/listen
Oct. 10	HILTON (R) Fox News	Cost of living, Skid Row	watch/listen
Oct. 7	HILTON (R) Voice of San Diego podcast	Gubernatorial forum interview	watch/listen
Oct. 6	HILTON (R) Los Angeles Times — Decision California	Town-hall discussion on the governor’s race	watch/listen

Interviews: Xavier Becerra (D) (newest first)

Date	Outlet / program	Notes	Link
Nov. 3	BECERRA (D) NBC4 Los Angeles — victory speech, Sacramento	“We fought, and we won”; speech, not a sit-down	watch
Nov. 2	BECERRA (D) ABC7 Los Angeles (KABC) — Jory Rand, Homegirl Cafe	Roads and the tax code; ABC7 notes he has not said he supports a mileage tax	watch
Nov. 2	BECERRA (D) NBC4 Los Angeles — Lolita Lopez, Historic Filipinotown	“I’m in a great position today”; not a sit-down	watch
Nov. 2	BECERRA (D) KQED Political Breakdown on PBS	Health care, housing and the state’s biggest challenges (TV version)	watch
Nov. 1	BECERRA (D) 10News (KGTV, San Diego) — Yasmeen Ludy, Oceanside stop	Brief Q&A on costs	watch/read
Nov. 1	BECERRA (D) NBC4 Los Angeles — Lolita Lopez, Hollywood Palladium rally report	With Harris, Newsom and Padilla; not a sit-down	watch
Oct. 30	BECERRA (D) KQED — Political Breakdown, Marisa Lagos and Scott Shafer	His priorities if elected (podcast)	listen
Oct. 30	BECERRA (D) San Francisco Chronicle — video interview	Per the Chronicle, he declined to go into detail on housing, CARE Court, health care costs or the death penalty	watch
Oct. 28	BECERRA (D) KCRA 3 — California Politics 360	A possible tax on the wealthiest, “everything should be on the table” on a per-mile road fee, High-Speed Rail leadership	watch/read
Oct. 21	BECERRA (D) FOX 11 Los Angeles — in-depth interview (posted 4:58 p.m. PT)	“Do more, do better”: his plans for California (found Oct. 23)	watch
Oct. 22	BECERRA (D) KBAK/KBFX Eyewitness News — Bakersfield rally report (Michelle Roldan)	Report on his rally with Randy Villegas; health care and H.R. 1; not a sit-down • in the video	watch
Oct. 21	BECERRA (D) ABC7 News (KGO) — Monica Madden, at an East Bay housing event (Mon., Oct. 19)	Homelessness prevention and accountability for state-funded programs • in the video	watch
Oct. 20	BECERRA (D) N+ Univision 34 — forum Los Latinos Preguntan (Tessier, Valdez)	30-minute interview in Spanish: housing emergency, utility bills, health care, immigration • in the video (clips Becerra posted)	watch
Oct. 20	BECERRA (D) ABC10 (Sacramento) — Alex Bell sit-down	Housing emergency, gas tax, utilities, homelessness; with analyst panel	watch
Oct. 20	BECERRA (D) EFE (Spanish-language wire service), via Infobae	Interview in Los Angeles: Trump, his immigrant family, priorities (in Spanish)	read
Oct. 19	BECERRA (D) KRON4 — El Cerrito housing event (Charles Clifford report)	Remarks on affordable housing • in the video	watch
Oct. 19	BECERRA (D) ABC10 — Indio rally report	“Power Hour” electricity plan • in the video	watch
Oct. 17	BECERRA (D) Reecie Colbert (YouTube)	Posted Oct. 17, but the conversation refers to the June 2 primary as upcoming, so it appears to have been recorded earlier	watch/listen
Oct. 16	BECERRA (D) Tavis Smiley, KBLA 1580 (radio/podcast)	In-studio interview; audio only	watch/listen
Oct. 13	BECERRA (D) Times of San Diego (Andrew Keatts)	Interview in the Oct. 13 newsletter (added Oct. 20)	read
Oct. 12	BECERRA (D) ABC7 News Bay Area — Monica Madden one-on-one	One-on-one interview	watch/listen
Oct. 10	BECERRA (D) ABC10 (Sacramento) — Jenny He, campaign stop	Answers Hilton’s criticism • in the video	watch/listen
Oct. 7	BECERRA (D) ABC10 — Escondido campaign stop (news report)	Report on Becerra’s stop; not a sit-down	watch/listen
Oct. 6	BECERRA (D) KTVU FOX 2 — full interview with Greg Lee	Full-length interview	watch/listen

The Univision 34 forum aired Tuesday night, Oct. 20; both interviews are listed above (full program; TelevisaUnivision).

Polls (click to open)

Poll	Dates	Sample	Becerra	Hilton	Note
ActiVote	Oct. 17–31	400 likely voters, ±4.9	63.2%	36.8%	Released Oct. 31
Berkeley IGS / LA Times	Oct. 19–25	1,477 likely voters, ±3	61%	34%	Released Oct. 30
PPIC	Oct. 16–22	1,086 likely voters, ±3.8	61%	37%	Released Oct. 27
McLaughlin & Associates	Oct. 17–20	800 voters	55%	39.3%	4.9% undecided; for the California Post, reported Oct. 24
Emerson College	Oct. 17–19	1,000 likely voters, ±3.1	60%	33%	7% undecided; released Oct. 21 (with Inside California Politics)
ActiVote	Sept. 24–Oct. 16	400 likely voters, ±4.9	62.8%	37.2%	Released Oct. 16
Manhattan Institute	Sept. 24–Oct. 1	1,000 likely voters	55%	38%	7% undecided; released Oct. 9 (Call the Map lists 57%–39%)
IVC Media	about Sept. 28	2,906 likely voters	48%	38%	11% undecided (listed by Call the Map)
SurveyUSA	Sept. 15–20	742 likely voters	55%	33%	Listed by Call the Map Oct. 15 (added Oct. 20)
Berkeley IGS	about Sept. 20	4,512 likely voters	58%	33%	Listed by Call the Map
Hilton campaign poll (David Wolfson)	Oct. 1–2	1,020 voters	45.7%	40.1%	Commissioned by the Hilton campaign; 14.1% undecided; reported by the CA Post, cited by the California Globe

Public-poll average on Oct. 21: Becerra +20.8, up from +19.6 on Oct. 18 after the Emerson poll was added (Call the Map, 13 polls). Berkeley IGS’s Oct. 19–25 poll found Becerra 61%, Hilton 34% (LA Times). In his Oct. 14 Clay Travis interview Hilton said the traditional polls assume a Republican turnout like past years and that polls “more of the moment” show a gap under 10 points. That is his explanation; we have not verified it. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026.

Claims and checks (click to open)

Hilton’s tax plan. No state income tax on the first $150,000 of income, and remaining income taxes capped at 8%. The Sacramento Bee found no third-party assessment; Hilton said his campaign puts the cost at about $25 billion a year for each prong of the cut, and he proposes paying for it with high-speed-rail savings and “Operation Zero Waste” spending cuts. Becerra said the plan gives millionaires a 40% tax cut; the Bee confirmed that the top rate would fall about 40% (13.3% to 8%). A left-leaning budget group called the plan “not a plausible plan” (Sacramento Bee, Oct. 12).
Hilton’s savings figure. In the Clay Travis interview he said his plans would save a typical California family $11,047 a year and pointed to savewithsteve.vote. That is a campaign calculation; we have not verified it.
Gas. Hilton says hidden taxes make California gas about $2 a gallon higher than the rest of the country and that his plan would reach $3 gas. These are his claims and proposals; we did not check them for this edition.
Debates. The only face-to-face general-election debate so far was CNN’s in Burbank on Sept. 30 (Sacramento Bee; California Globe). Hilton posted on Oct. 5 that Becerra pulled out of an LA Times debate and on Oct. 9 that he backed out of a Univision debate, citing a “scheduling conflict.” Those are Hilton’s statements as reported by the Globe; we found no Becerra response. Univision’s Oct. 20 program was a forum with separate interviews of both men, not a debate (TelevisaUnivision); afterward Hilton posted that Becerra “refused to appear on stage with me and debate” (Hilton on X).
Debate-viewer numbers. Hilton’s Oct. 5 post cites a poll of debate viewers favoring him 74% to 20%; in the Oct. 14 interview he said 72% thought he won. The poll’s sponsor is not identified in the reporting we found.
Homelessness figures. Hilton cites the 2025 federal count of 181,934 homeless Californians (115,583 unsheltered) and almost $24 billion in state spending, and says the state auditor found spending was not consistently tracked. Reports attribute these to Hilton; Next News Network said it could not independently verify them (10News/CNS; Next News Network).
Hollywood. Hilton’s plan (Oct. 14): a 40% production credit, possibly 50% for five years, no $750 million cap, rolling approvals within 30 days, and state-backed studio financing, at an unknown cost. Both candidates acknowledge about 52,000 lost production jobs statewide in four years; Becerra has not said whether he would remove the cap (Variety).
Univision forum figures. Hilton said government fees and regulations add about $200,000 to the cost of each new home, that California has about a million vacant lots, and that about 180,000 people are homeless statewide; Becerra tied higher gas prices to the war with Iran. These are the candidates’ statements (Univision; Hilton on X); we did not check them for this edition.
Housing fees and recovery centers. Hilton’s $200,000 fees figure and $50,000 cap proposal (Oct. 22) and his plan for up to 30 recovery centers of about 5,000 people each are his figures and proposals; ABC7 reports he has not given a statewide construction timeline or cost estimate (ABC7; Hilton on X).
Poll figures on Real Time. Maher said Hilton “can’t get within 20 points” and asked about making up 25; Hilton cited an unnamed poll “today” at about half that and one last week at six points. Those are the speakers’ figures (clip posted by Hilton).
Polls dispute. Hilton told FOX26 he doubts the Emerson poll (Becerra 60%, Hilton 33%); that is his view. Emerson’s numbers and method are on its release (FOX26).
Becerra’s statements. In the ABC7 interview he said “I certainly will be a different governor” and cited his national and state experience; he opposes the billionaire-tax measure on the ballot (Prop. 40) and supports Prop. 3. These are his positions and self-descriptions (Sacramento Bee; ABC7).

Endorsements (click to open)

The President endorsed Hilton in April 2026. In a Truth Social post reported on April 6, Trump wrote: “I have known and respected Steve Hilton, who is running for Governor of California, for many years. He is a truly fine man…” and said he would help Hilton as President. Hilton responded: “I’m grateful for the president’s support. Together, we can turn things around and make California truly golden again” (CalMatters). On Oct. 22 the President posted on Truth Social: “THE GREAT PEOPLE OF CALIFORNIA, GET OUT AND VOTE FOR: – Steve Hilton for Governor…” calling the listed candidates “Great Patriots” with his “Complete and Total Endorsement” (American Presidency Project). On Election Day morning, Nov. 3, he posted it again: “TO THE GREAT PEOPLE OF CALIFORNIA, GET OUT AND VOTE FOR: – Steve Hilton for Governor… These Great Patriots have my Complete and Total Endorsement — They will never let you down!” (Truth Social). On Oct. 6 Hilton named areas where he disagrees with the President, including University of California funding cuts (Los Angeles Times). The California Republican Party now lists Hilton as its endorsed candidate (CiteLine). On Oct. 19 Spencer Pratt posted that Hilton “has earned our votes,” and Hilton reposted it (Pratt on X).

Clips used under fair use for news commentary; sources are credited in the video.