By admin 
The California Republican Party emerged from Tuesday’s primary by announcing a coalition of candidates who promise that if elected in November will stem the flight of “nuts, fruits, and grown children” leaving the Golden State in search of lower taxes and cheaper mortgages.
Read more Eyeing November, Steve Hilton and California GOP unveil ‘Victory ‘26’ slate
Steve Hilton, the Fox News host currently leading the governor’s race, appeared at state GOP headquarters in Sacramento on Wednesday wearing his usual business suit with no tie. Flanked by party chair Corrin Rankin, he announced the “Victory ‘26” slate, which features him and GOP-endorsed candidates for each of the state’s 8 executive offices.
“The Democratic Party in California has had 16 years to show that their ideas work well,” Hilton told reporters. “We’re still waiting. We have the highest poverty rate in the country, the highest unemployment rate of all 50 states, the highest cost of living by far, intractable problems that just seem to get worse the more money that we spend on them.”
As of 4:44 a.m. Wednesday, Hilton was leading the governor’s race with nearly 28%, though results will not be certified for days to come. The Associated Press estimates about 54% of votes have been counted. That lead could shrink as Democrats held on to their mail-in ballots longer than usual this cycle. Late returns could shift the results to either boost leading Democrat Xavier Becerra, or his rival, Tom Steyer, who was trailing at third with 20% of the vote.
Registered Democrats in California, but the GOP has tried to capitalize on simmering consternation with high cost of living and homelessness to break the Democrats’ decade long hold on the Legislature and governor’s mansion.
Rankin cited a recent survey showing 57% of Californians believed the state was on the wrong track, calling it a “precipice.”
“What we’re offering is a viable option to the one-party rule. Who you see before you today are your neighbors, and they want a better California,” she said. “Who you see behind me is the other direction, a better direction. People who care about California, who want to make our state golden again, who want to continue to have our children live in our state.”
The Victory ‘26 slate featured a mix of ideologies from moderates like state controller candidate Herb Morgan to state superintendent hopeful Sonja Shaw, the Chino Valley culture warrior who rose out of the state’s parental rights movement at the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Like Rankin, Secretary of State contender Don Wagner also blamed the state’s affordability issues on the Democrats’ “one-party rule.”
Read more The Hills to City Hall: Who is ex-TV star and LA mayoral challenger Spencer Pratt?
“It’s gotten us to a place where our three biggest exports are fruits, nuts and grown children,” he said. “We need to change that, and change starts right here at the top.”
Besides Hilton, it was Shaw, clad in ruby-red sparkly kitten heels reminiscent of Dorthy Gale, who earned the loudest cheers when she promised to stop transgender female athletes from playing on girls’ sports teams. She pledged to reverse that by teaming up with GOP Attorney General contender Michael Gates to overturn state anti-discrimination laws.
“With me as state superintendent, that’s going to change on day one. We’re going to make sure there’s no more boys in girls’ locker rooms and on their sports teams,” she said. “That ends, especially when I have Michael Gates by my side, making sure that parents have their constitutional rights in their child’s own education, and reading and writing and math are the focus and the forefront.”
While Hilton carries the endorsement of President Donald Trump, who congratulated him for his performance Tuesday night, the wonkish former British government adviser tried to strike a conciliatory tone. He said he wanted to reach all voters, regardless of party affiliation, who were frustrated with the status quo.
“As you saw in the governor’s race, there are points of agreement between some of us,” Hilton told reporters.
He said former Democratic Rep. Katie Porter adopted his tax plan during her unsuccessful bid for governor. And said he agreed with some of San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan’s proposals to remove regulations hampering housing construction.
“They’re good points, and so I would welcome anyone as part of what I think of as a change alliance,” he said.
That also includes Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, who had not conceded as of midday Wednesday, though Hilton said he was confident the two would speak soon.
Read more Alvarado-Gil behind in California’s 4th Senate District, initial election tally shows