The Tudor Dixon Podcast: Steve Hilton - How Democrat Rule Destroyed California and How Republicans Can Take It Back

Published October 20, 2025

Overview

In this episode, Tudor Dixon sits down with Steve Hilton, conservative commentator and 2026 California gubernatorial candidate. They have a lively, detailed conversation about California’s "one-party rule" under Democrats, the resulting policy failures, and the path Republicans must chart to reclaim political ground in the state. The discussion ranges from election integrity and homelessness to the regulatory burdens on residents and businesses, with Hilton arguing that Californians are ready for change. Both participants mix personal anecdotes with sharp commentary, aiming their message at disillusioned voters and potential campaign volunteers.

Main Discussion Points & Key Insights

1. The State of California’s Elections

[03:21 – 08:51]

• Ballot Harvesting and Election Rules

  • California’s ballot harvesting (legalized in 2016), universal mail-in voting, and extended ballot deadlines are, Hilton argues, highly susceptible to abuse.
  • Steve Hilton: "Your ballot can come in seven days after the election...voter rolls...you had 5 million people on the voter rolls who shouldn’t have been." [04:34]
  • The path forward, per Hilton: Out-organize Democrats using the same ground game, and “make it too big to rig” — echoing Trump’s voting strategy.

• Public Sentiment & Path to Victory

  • Despite surface-level Democratic dominance, Hilton insists a majority (over 60%) think the state is on the "wrong track."
  • Ten counties flipped from blue to red in 2024, signaling potential for a GOP resurgence.
  • "If we have a great campaign, a good ground game, make sure our voters turn out, we can absolutely do this next year." [08:32]

2. Decline in Living Conditions and Services

[08:51 – 14:23]

• The Visible Decline

  • Dixon and Hilton recount the transformation of California, referencing the devastation from wildfires and the highly visible homelessness crisis in LA and San Francisco.
  • Steve Hilton: “The slogan of my campaign is ‘golden again.’ ...In the years I’ve been here, the decline has been so evident.” [09:35]

• Homelessness: Policy Failure

  • Billions spent, problem worsens due to entrenched interests and ideologically-driven regulations.
  • Laws, e.g. “Housing First” (2016), bar organizations from requiring sobriety or behavioral change, which both hosts view as enabling dysfunction.
  • “It's so cruel and heartless and it's ideological...You can’t get people off drugs, you can’t get them into mental health.” [11:23]

• Economic Pain Points

  • California now leads in poverty, unemployment, expensive housing, and cost-of-living.
  • Hilton, on double standards regarding illegal immigration: “Regular working people in California cannot afford healthcare...taxpayer spending for free healthcare for illegal immigrants.” [13:03]

3. Regulatory and Bureaucratic Roadblocks

[19:15 – 23:46]

• Wildfire Aftermath – Permitting Nightmares

  • Rebuilding after disasters is slowed by convoluted regulations: In Malibu, out of 600 homes burned, only 2 permits issued for rebuilding.
  • Hilton exposes the “bureaucratic mindset,” ridiculing empty proclamations by figures like LA Mayor Karen Bass, paraphrasing: “I have just signed an executive order tasking agency heads with developing paths forward to streamlining permitting.” [20:02]

• General Regulatory Overreach

  • Dixon and Hilton swap stories of excessive, business-killing regulations in California and Michigan.
  • The ballooning state budget fails to improve outcomes: “In the last 10 years, [California’s budget] doubled. And everything’s worse.” [22:56]

4. Democratic Leadership and Political Culture

[23:46 – 31:12]

• Political Entitlement & Unaccountability

  • An excerpted confrontation with Dem candidate Katie Porter highlights what Dixon and Hilton describe as the entitlement of California Democrats.
  • Dixon, on Porter: “She makes it very clear, I don’t care at all about those people. That’s half her state.” [27:45]
  • Hilton lampoons California’s ruling class as “entitled, arrogant...No consequences ever for their failures. No accountability.” [26:47]

• Extreme Policy Positions

  • Betty Yee (another Dem candidate) advocates for gender-neutral Olympics in LA: “[She] literally said there was a yes, I think that’s what, you know, we should have. Yes, a gender neutral Olympics for LA. Wow.” [30:21]

5. Media Dynamics and Republican Women

[37:20 – 42:57]

• Media Bias in Candidate Scrutiny

  • Both claim Democratic candidates rarely face tough questioning, contrasting with the aggressive approach taken against Republicans.

• Kamala Harris & DEI Discourse

  • Commentary on the impact of identity politics on candidate quality and public trust, using VP Harris as an example.
  • “There is no reason that he couldn’t have found an actually qualified black woman ...But when you’re not hiring someone because you think they’re the best, you are hurting women, you are hurting minorities.” [41:18–42:11]

6. Call to Action for California Republicans

[47:00 – 47:42]

• Hilton requests financial and volunteer support:
  • “We’re just getting our volunteer army together now, so it’s the perfect time. SteveHiltonForGovernor.com” [47:00]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Ballot Harvesting:

  • Steve Hilton: “When I first heard that term I thought that’s gotta be a joke...if that was real, they would never give it such a corrupt sounding name.” [04:33]

• On Homelessness:

  • Steve Hilton: “It’s disgusting. I’m often in downtown Los Angeles. And you just walk around and it stinks, I’m sorry to say, urine and feces.” [09:35]

• On Political Apathy:

  • Tudor Dixon: “Government forming a committee is the worst thing that can ever happen because it’s just...It’s a press release. That’s all it is.” [21:57]

• On Gender Politics in Sports:

  • Steve Hilton, retelling a debate: “So what you’re telling me, Betty, is that you would like to have a gender neutral Olympics. She literally said there was a yes.” [30:21]

• On The California Dream:

  • Tudor Dixon: “As a kid...California had this aura about it...We would tell people, like, ‘Oh, we live in the United States. We have California.’...And we loved California. There was never, never this tainted view of California as dirty and disgusting.” [46:57]

Important Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment / Key Topic | |-------------|-------------------------| | 03:21–06:42 | Ballot harvesting, election strategy | | 06:42–08:51 | Stats on CA voters & path to GOP win | | 08:51–14:23 | Decline, homelessness, economic pain | | 19:15–23:46 | Fire recovery, regulatory nightmares | | 23:46–31:12 | Dem candidate issues, media scrutiny | | 37:20–42:57 | Media bias, Kamala/DEI, women in politics | | 46:57–47:42 | Call for campaign support |

Tone & Takeaways

• The conversation is sharp, direct, and occasionally humorous. Dixon and Hilton blend policy critique with campaign optimism and personal anecdotes.
• The episode targets frustrated Californians, encouraging them to hope for — and work towards — Republican renewal in the state.
• Democratic policies are depicted as driven by ideology, resulting in economic malaise, regulatory absurdity, and declining quality of life.
• Hilton urges listeners to get involved: “Please, please get involved. SteveHiltonForGovernor.com...volunteer army...SteveHiltonForGovernor.com.” [47:00]

For more: SteveHiltonForGovernor.com
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