Hilton said the regulations are \u201ccompletely unnecessary\u201d and \u201ctake no account of actual seismic conditions in the area.\u201d Hilton also highlighted minimum wage increases, which he called \u201ca disaster,\u201d and energy costs, as unnecessary financial drags on hospitals.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s all these things that actually the government does to increase the costs of healthcare providers. So my starting point, especially for hospitals that are closing down, is to reduce those cost pressures by reducing the mandates and regulations from Sacramento,\u201d Hilton said in an exclusive interview with The Fresno Bee.<\/p>\n
Hilton also said his campaign has planned an upcoming newspaper campaign ad that encourages anti-Trump voters to support him.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhatever your views are on national politics, it\u2019s not about who you hate in Washington. It\u2019s about what you love in California and how we can restore the California dream,\u201d Hilton said.<\/p>\n
Xavier Becerra, Hilton\u2019s Democratic opponent, generally opposes deregulation. On his campaign website<\/a>, he touted taking on hospital systems over anticompetitive practices and health care prices during his time as California attorney general. He also said he would use his powers to prevent rural hospital closures.<\/p>\n Two times as attorney general, Becerra required hospitals to maintain its seismic compliance as part of a sale.<\/p>\n Facing a supermajority of Democrats in both houses of the state legislature, Hilton said, if elected, he would use his executive powers to enact reform. That means appointments to state boards of like-minded people who would fulfill his mission to deregulate.<\/p>\n \u201cThere are hundreds of these agencies, and they are making life impossible for businesses in California. My starting point is to cut back the massive bloat in our government in Sacramento,\u201d Hilton said.<\/p>\n A PPIC poll<\/a> last week shows Becerra leading 61% to 36% over Hilton.<\/p>\n Hilton said those numbers just reflect the recent June 2 primary, before any campaigning for the November election started.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy would you vote the same way and expect a different result?\u201d Hilton said. \u201cThe state needs a major overhaul. You\u2019re not going to get that from someone like Xavier Becerra, who\u2019s a 36-year career politician.\u201d<\/p>\n Hilton capped his evening at a fundraiser for Gloria Romero, candidate for lieutenant governor and Hilton\u2019s de facto running mate. He calls it \u201cthe golden ticket.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a good balance because I\u2019ve never run for office before. I\u2019m an outsider fighting to shake up the system that obviously isn\u2019t working. Gloria\u2019s had a lot of experience in Sacramento. She was leader of the Democrats in the state senate, so she\u2019s able to bring that experience to help us when we try and make change happen,\u201d Hilton said.<\/p>\n An upcoming newspaper campaign ad encourages anti-Trump voters to support Hilton.<\/p>\n \u201cWhatever your views are on national politics, it\u2019s not about who you hate in Washington. It\u2019s about what you love in California and how we can restore the California dream,\u201d Hilton said.<\/p>\n Kyle Kirkland hosted the event at his Club One Casino in Fresno. He\u2019s running for Congress. Comedian Paul Rodriguez performed a stand-up set.<\/p>\n This story was originally published July 21, 2026 at 1:17 PM.<\/p>\n Steve Hilton, left, and Gloria Romero, candidates for governor and lieutenant governor respectively, appeared at a Romero fundraiser at the Club One Casino in Fresno on Monday, July 20, 2026. David Taub The Fresno Bee Not concerned about poll numbers<\/p>\n
Comedian Paul Rodriguez performs at a fundraiser for lt. governor candidate Gloria Romero at the Club One Casino in Fresno on July 20, 2026. David Taub The Fresno Bee <\/p>\n