Georgia Howe

A recent poll showed 48% of Californians are considering voting Republican in the next gubernatorial election. In this episode, we speak to entrepreneur and bestselling author Steve Hilton about what went wrong in California and why it's ripe for political change. I'm Georgia Howe with Daily Wire editor-in-chief John Bickley. It's Sunday, March 30th, and this is a weekend edition of Morning Wire.

A recent poll showed 48% of Californians are considering voting Republican in the next gubernatorial election. In this episode, we speak to entrepreneur and bestselling author Steve Hilton about what went wrong in California and why it's ripe for political change. I'm Georgia Howe with Daily Wire editor-in-chief John Bickley. It's Sunday, March 30th, and this is a weekend edition of Morning Wire.

Joining us now to discuss the pent-up frustrations fueling the California political shift is entrepreneur, author, and podcast host Steve Hilton. Steve, thanks so much for coming on.

Joining us now to discuss the pent-up frustrations fueling the California political shift is entrepreneur, author, and podcast host Steve Hilton. Steve, thanks so much for coming on.

Good to be with you. So, Steve, a variety of polls right now are showing that voters are not happy with Democrats, including in deep blue California. Do you think there's a chance a conservative candidate could actually win in 2026 for the governor's race?

Good to be with you. So, Steve, a variety of polls right now are showing that voters are not happy with Democrats, including in deep blue California. Do you think there's a chance a conservative candidate could actually win in 2026 for the governor's race?

Now, I want to unpack some of the things that you touched on. But first, just wondering, you said 50 percent of Californians said they're open to voting for a Republican. How much of a swing is that from baseline? I mean, has a poll like this been done in the past?

Now, I want to unpack some of the things that you touched on. But first, just wondering, you said 50 percent of Californians said they're open to voting for a Republican. How much of a swing is that from baseline? I mean, has a poll like this been done in the past?

Now, the most recent stress test of this, it's not exactly apples to apples, but Rick Caruso ran for mayor as a conservative Democrat, but he failed to win in Los Angeles. So do you think that the ticket to win is to run as a Democrat and just be to the right of the more progressive candidate? Or do you think you can come out and actually win under the GOP banner?

Now, the most recent stress test of this, it's not exactly apples to apples, but Rick Caruso ran for mayor as a conservative Democrat, but he failed to win in Los Angeles. So do you think that the ticket to win is to run as a Democrat and just be to the right of the more progressive candidate? Or do you think you can come out and actually win under the GOP banner?

Now, something you touched on earlier was that the fires opened the eyes of a lot of people. Just this week, there was a release that said four million Californians live in fire danger zones. Just wondering, because you might have more information on this than me, is that a policy failure or is that just the reality of the climate in California and where some of these homes are built?

Now, something you touched on earlier was that the fires opened the eyes of a lot of people. Just this week, there was a release that said four million Californians live in fire danger zones. Just wondering, because you might have more information on this than me, is that a policy failure or is that just the reality of the climate in California and where some of these homes are built?

Now, California also announced a nearly $1 billion deficit last week. It's pretty stunning considering that we think of California as an extremely wealthy state with a huge tax base. They have Silicon Valley, for example. So where is all that money going?

Now, California also announced a nearly $1 billion deficit last week. It's pretty stunning considering that we think of California as an extremely wealthy state with a huge tax base. They have Silicon Valley, for example. So where is all that money going?

Now, all of the failures that you mentioned are actually fueling a lot of people to leave the state. Just for example, I left about five years ago and pretty much every conservative I know was either planning to leave or has left just in the past few years. So it's striking that 48 to 50 percent of Californians say they'd be open to voting for the GOP.

Now, all of the failures that you mentioned are actually fueling a lot of people to leave the state. Just for example, I left about five years ago and pretty much every conservative I know was either planning to leave or has left just in the past few years. So it's striking that 48 to 50 percent of Californians say they'd be open to voting for the GOP.

I suppose this would be hard to measure, but is this newly minted conservative voters because the rest of us have left? Or what do we know about the demographics there?

I suppose this would be hard to measure, but is this newly minted conservative voters because the rest of us have left? Or what do we know about the demographics there?

Now, I want to talk to you about your book. It's hard to distill it down, but what would you say are the top two, three, five things that California could do to change their trajectory?

Now, I want to talk to you about your book. It's hard to distill it down, but what would you say are the top two, three, five things that California could do to change their trajectory?