Trump-backed Steve Hilton on his bid to sway anti-Trump voters in California gubernatorial race

[00:00:00]Turning now to the race to be California's next governor where Democrat and former Health and Human Services Secretary Javier Becerra is facing off against Republican and former Fox News contributor and entrepreneur Steve Hilton. As the race enters the general election stretch, Hilton is out with a new and untraditional pitch from a Republican candidate look.

[00:00:21]>> I get it.

[00:00:22]Maybe you hate Trump, Maga, [music] whatever.

[00:00:25]But life here has become impossible for anyone who isn't already rich.

[00:00:30]We are going to fix that.

[00:00:33]>> And joining me now is California's gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton.

[00:00:37]Thank you so much for joining us. We really appreciate it.

[00:00:41]>> Of course, great to be with you, Kristen.

[00:00:43]>> It's great to have you. So, let's talk about what we just heard there in the ad. Sounds like you're trying to convince anti-Trump voters to vote for you. What is your pitch to them and to to those independent voters who you need to win over?

[00:00:59]>> That's exactly right. Everyone can see the lie of the land politically in California. I've always acknowledged this is an uphill battle, but the logic of this race is that we're going to get a change because a majority of Californians, 66% in the latest poll, say not just that the state's going in the wrong direction and that it's time for change, but we need a total overhaul. However, it's also true that a Republican hasn't won for 20 years. The gap is very big and so it's clear that there is a group of people in California who know that we need change, who think that gas prices are too high, housing costs are too high, taxes are too high and we're not getting enough in exchange, but who are put off from voting Republican cuz they don't like the president, they don't like the idea of voting Republican. And my message is to say, "Look, enough is enough. Let's fix California, focus on the positive practical things that we can do here. That's my plan to make our state Cali-affordable. $3 gas, cut electric bills in half, your first 150 grand tax free, start a homes for young families. These are practical things, not ideological things that everyone can get behind and that's the message.

[00:02:08]>> Is there one policy that you can identify where you disagree with President Trump?

[00:02:15]>> Yeah, there's a number. I mean, we you know, one one of the big ones, I mean, I don't know if you'd put it in the category of policy, but I've been asked about whether I you know, the 2020 election which is which is something that I've been clear when asked you know, who won that election. Biden won that election.

[00:02:30]Everybody knows that and so that's a point where I guess you could say there there's there's a disagreement. I've spoken out against suggestions for example that were made recently about withdrawing customs and border patrol from California airports as retaliation for sanctuary state policy. I disagree with sanctuary state policy, but I don't think that's a sensible way to go.

[00:02:52]I don't like the idea of taking government stakes in our big AI companies and tech companies. That's been a suggestion that's been floated. I think that what people need to know about me is that I'm not an ideologue.

[00:03:05]I'm a pragmatic problem solver with business experience as you mentioned, government reform experience prior to moving here in 2012 with my wife and my sons. I was senior advisor to the Prime Minister in the UK leading our domestic reform programs. And so I just think people need to know that I'm going to above all stand up for what changes we need to make in California, but I I appreciate and I'm honored by the president's endorsement and I've said I think it's a good thing for Californians to have a governor who has a good relationship with the president and his team so that we can get good results for our state.

[00:03:42]>> Since you raise it and and you've said you believe Joe Biden did win the 2020 election. As you know, President Trump delivered that speech this week in which he essentially tried to cast doubt on elections. Do you think that's the right message right now? Do you think that's what people want to hear about? Are you concerned it could be a drag on your race?

[00:04:05]>> Well, I'm focused on our election here and I do think there's a lot that we need to improve. And it's not just me saying that. I mean, the fact that it took over a month to get official results in California. Even the New York Times editorial board wrote a very powerful piece on that, which I agreed with that we can we need to improve the the way that elections are run in California.

[00:04:24]I also pointed out that we were very vigilant in my race to make sure to reassure our supporters that there was nothing untoward and we didn't see anything that concerned us in that way.

[00:04:35]And so I'm just focused on getting as many votes as possible within a system that I think needs change. Another really important point, we've got voter ID on the ballot here in California.

[00:04:46]It's not the same plan as the Save America Act that gets a lot of conversation, but I think voter ID is supported by a majority of Californians and I think that is one step towards assuring people that our elections are things that they can have confidence in.

[00:05:01]>> One of the big policy issues, as you well know, that's being discussed all across the country is Iran. I want to play something the president said yesterday about the war in Iran as it relates to the midterms. Take a listen.

[00:05:15]>> I don't view it as do you have an election in a period of time.

[00:05:19]You know, everyone says, "Oh, I'm doing something before." Now, the election I I can't think about that having to do with this.

[00:05:27]I think people are very impressed.

[00:05:30]>> Is that messaging a mistake for President Trump given that gas is above $5.50 in California?

[00:05:38]>> Well, the why is it above $5.50 in California? Due to Democratic policies. The other day >> Well, because of the war in Iran, Mr. Hilton, and because of the war in Iran.

[00:05:51]>> But >> Okay, but the gas has gone up about a dollar since Joe Biden left office.

[00:05:56]>> That's right, but it's $2 higher than the rest of the country because of Democrat policies. That's the part I can make a difference on. That's how we get to my plan. You can see it behind me of $3 gas. Just the other week, uh we filled up our campaign truck in Los Angeles. Back then it was about 649. Um next day we're in Texas 349. And the Iran war is taking place in a world where both of those prices exist. It's the It's the gas tax in California highest in the country and the regulations driven by um uh an environmental agenda that actually isn't even delivering results for the climate.

[00:06:30]So, I think that that's the point. Like, what can I affect as our next governor to bring gas prices down in California?

[00:06:37]There's a lot. We can bring it Before the Iran war, you had 40 states in our country with $3 or below. I think California with all our oil reserves that are not being used should be one of them.

[00:06:48]>> And would you support a gas tax if you were to be elected governor?

[00:06:53]Suspend a gas tax holiday, I should say.

[00:06:55]A gas tax holiday.

[00:06:57]>> Well, that's what I would Well, yes. I will be calling on the legislature to do that. That's not something completely in my control. It's just gone up. This is the amazing thing.

[00:07:06]My opponent, Xavier Becerra, is running around saying, "Oh, the affordability crisis is really bad." Democrats in the state legislature just increased the gas tax on July the 1st from 61 cents to over 63 cents. I think, "What's going on?" They're just They're just gouging working people who are struggling, you know, small business owners. And so, I will be calling on the legislature to do that. By the way, in the primary, there were a number of the other Democrats running for governor who had the same position. So, I do think that we'll be able to find some common ground on that after I'm elected.

[00:07:39]>> Let me ask you about one of the chief criticisms from your opponent who's seizing on your connection to President Trump. He said this in a statement to the Sacramento Bee, quote, you can't fix the affordability crisis while carrying water for the man causing it. How do you respond to that argument by Xavier Becerra?

[00:08:00]>> What's the It's laughable. Of [laughter] course the the we have the highest housing costs in the country, more than double the the national average. The our electric bills are the highest everywhere except Hawaii, more than double the national average. They've doubled in the last 10 years. None of that has anything to do with President Trump. It's the Democrat policies that Xavier Becerra 100% supports that have given us the highest cost of living in the country.

[00:08:27]>> And yet you acknowledge the Iran war has sent prices up, right? I mean, I understand what you're saying that they're higher in California.

[00:08:34]But all across the country prices have gone up on gas, on oil.

[00:08:41]>> That's no no question. We can see that, but but the question is what can you do about the even higher costs here in California? For example, we have the highest grocery prices in the country.

[00:08:52]That in large part is driven by energy costs, both gas and diesel for transportation and electricity for stores in the whole supply chain. And so all of these things we can actually affect here in California. And that's what I'm focused on, positive, pragmatic things that we can do here that command broad support so that we can just restore those basic things we we used to think of as the California dream, a good job where you make enough to raise your family in a home of your own in a safe neighborhood with a good school so your kids have a better life. We used to offer that here, better than anywhere else, not just in America, but in the world. That's what I want to get us back to.

[00:09:27]>> All right, Steve Hilton, thank you. Be safe. We will be following your race very closely. Really appreciate your time.

[00:09:35]>> We thank you for watching and remember stay updated on breaking news and top stories on the NBC News app or watch live on our YouTube channel.