3:00 • Hilton on Real Time with Bill Maher (Oct. 23), with Joe Rogan and on FOX26 • cow, calf and horse breaks from the farm • no narration
Editorial: Rio Dell Times endorses Steve Hilton for Governor. Election Day: Tuesday, Nov. 3.
Latest • Friday, Oct. 23, as of 10:15 p.m. PT
Real Time with Bill Maher (HBO, tonight): On a panel with Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (D), Maher asked why a Democrat wins Republican votes in Kentucky while a Republican “can’t get within 20 points” in California. Beshear said, “It’s a little tougher if you’ve been a Fox News host.” Hilton replied, “you’re talking about polls, not votes,” said lifelong Democrats tell him every day they are voting for him “because we’ve got to have some balance in California,” and said, “we absolutely have a shot at winning this election” (clip posted by Hilton; clip posted by Blue Georgia). In the web-only Overtime, he described his plan to abolish the DMV (Real Time on YouTube).
Real Time with Bill Maher (HBO, tonight): On a panel with Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (D), Maher asked why a Democrat wins Republican votes in Kentucky while a Republican “can’t get within 20 points” in California. Beshear said, “It’s a little tougher if you’ve been a Fox News host.” Hilton replied, “you’re talking about polls, not votes,” said lifelong Democrats tell him every day they are voting for him “because we’ve got to have some balance in California,” and said, “we absolutely have a shot at winning this election” (clip posted by Hilton; clip posted by Blue Georgia). In the web-only Overtime, he described his plan to abolish the DMV (Real Time on YouTube).
Updates log (newest first; click to open)
Friday, October 23, 2026 — as of 10:15 p.m. PT
- Video touch-up (3:00): the cowbell is now Steve Wolff’s own recording, and each moo now plays complete, start to finish. Clips and order unchanged.
Friday, October 23, 2026 — as of 9:30 p.m. PT
- New upbeat cut (2:59): opens with Hilton’s cow-shower visit to a Hilmar dairy, then Real Time with Bill Maher (“polls, not votes”; “we absolutely have a shot”), Overtime on the DMV, Joe Rogan’s “I really hope you win,” and FOX26 Fresno. Short cow, calf and horse breaks with real moos, cowbells and a whinny (public-domain/CC0, credited below). The Becerra clip moved out of the video; his interviews stay listed below. The long fair-use text is now one line.
Friday, October 23, 2026 — as of 8:45 p.m. PT (evening update)
- Video re-cut (2:54): now leads with Hilton on HBO’s Real Time with Bill Maher (panel and Overtime, Oct. 23), followed by his FOX26 interview (Oct. 22) and Becerra at KBAK’s Bakersfield rally report (Oct. 22). Dropped: the campaign ad, the Rogan clip, the housing-fees, ABC7 and Pomona clips and the older Becerra clips (all still linked below). Clip list below.
- Real Time with Bill Maher, HBO (Fri., Oct. 23, 7–8 p.m. PT): Hilton and Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (D) were the panel; former White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt was the one-on-one guest (HBO listing via The Futon Critic; Real Time on X). Maher asked, “Why can you get red votes being a blue guy, and you can’t get blue votes being a red guy in this state?” Beshear said it starts with being “less political and more pragmatic,” that “it helps having a less partisan background” and that “it’s a little tougher if you’ve been a Fox News host” (clip posted on X by Blue Georgia). Hilton said, “you’re talking about polls, not votes, and we still have people voting right now in California,” that people tell him, “I’m a lifelong Democrat, but this year I’m voting for you because we’ve got to have some balance,” and that “it’s not healthy to have one party rule for so long.” Asked whether he can make up 25 points in two weeks, he said, “there’s another poll today that was half that, and there was one last week that was six points” (Hilton’s figures; he did not name the polls) (clip posted on X by Hilton).
- Overtime with Bill Maher (posted on YouTube by Real Time, Oct. 23): On abolishing the DMV, Hilton said most states, “about 40,” don’t have one, that the work can be done “through other existing county offices” and online, and that his plan would cap vehicle registration at “the basic registration fee, $73 a year”; Beshear said Kentucky’s regional driver’s license offices are its DMV, and Maher said it “sounds like you’re just moving the deck chairs.” Both men backed nuclear power; Hilton said a California law prevents new plants. On a poll naming corruption as voters’ top issue, Hilton said he sees “a machine in Sacramento” sustained by government unions, teachers unions and special interests, and said unions “bribe the politicians” to pass laws that block housing (his claim) (Real Time on YouTube).
- CalMatters (via KVPR, Oct. 23): In a report on water policy by Rachel Becker, Hilton told CalMatters, “We can and should have abundant water in California, and there’s no reason that we don’t other than bad policy and mismanagement.” CalMatters reports that Becerra “offers no specific proposals on water” (KVPR/CalMatters).
- Becerra: FOX 11 Los Angeles posted an in-depth interview on Oct. 21 in which, per FOX 11, he outlines his plan to “do more, do better” (FOX 11; newly found, added to the interview list). No new Becerra interview found from Oct. 23.
Friday, October 23, 2026 — as of 9:15 a.m. PT
- Video re-cut (2:58): adds Hilton’s FOX26 interview (Oct. 22), his campaign’s “people experiencing voting Republican” ad (Oct. 22), a Joe Rogan clip Hilton posted (Oct. 22) and Becerra at KBAK’s Bakersfield rally report (Oct. 22). Dropped: Golden Gate tolls video, Univision forum clip (Hilton) and the KTVU and KRON4 clips. Clip list below.
- FOX26 (KMPH, Fresno), Madison Macay (Thu., Oct. 22; posted 9:44 p.m. PT): Asked about the Emerson poll, Hilton said, “I don’t think anyone serious thinks that’s what’s really going on in California. We’ll see on election day. I think Emerson might have a lot of explaining to do.” He said, “while it’s an uphill battle … we can still win this election,” and, asked what he would have done differently, “I wish we’d had more money. That’s the honest truth.” Asked whether the President’s primary endorsement cost Republicans a chance at two candidates on the November ballot, he said, “Oh, no, that was never realistic.” FOX26 reports he said he did not seek the endorsement but was honored to receive it. On ICE detentions in the Central Valley, including cases FOX26 reported of people who say they had valid work permits, he said, “The first thing I would do on this issue is actually phone Tom Homan, who I know personally,” and that federal operations should not run “without the governor knowing exactly what’s happening.” FOX26 says the full 20-minute interview is on its YouTube channel (FOX26).
- Real Time (Fri., Oct. 23): HBO’s show lists Hilton as a guest tonight with Karoline Leavitt and Gov. Andy Beshear; Hilton reposted the announcement (Real Time on X).
- Prison closures (Thu., Oct. 22): Gov. Gavin Newsom signed an executive order for an interagency effort to carry his public-safety strategy into the next administration (Governor’s office). Hilton replied: “Thanks but we got this. As the next governor I will reverse your insane and destructive prison closure program so we can actually keep dangerous criminals behind bars and stop the overcrowding of county jails” (Hilton on X).
- New ad (Thu., Oct. 22): Hilton posted a “Just Try It!” ad set in a support-group scene; characters describe losing homes in the Woolsey and Palisades fires and being called “a fascist,” and one says, “We’re just people experiencing voting Republican” (Hilton on X). The characters are played by actors; Hilton does not appear.
- Joe Rogan clip (Thu., Oct. 22): Hilton posted, “Proud to have Joe in my corner. 12 days to go,” with a clip in which Rogan tells him, “I really hope you win … I think you have a chance” (Hilton on X). The clip is from Hilton’s Aug. 19 appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience, episode #2542 (Apple Podcasts).
- Also from Hilton on X: a town hall on animal rescue today, Oct. 23, 11 a.m.–12:30 p.m., at Pawradise Park, 435 Molino St., Los Angeles (Oct. 23); a post saying Becerra plans to say no to the federal Education Freedom Tax Credit, which Hilton says would cost California students $31 billion (Oct. 22); a post on a federal case over a $2 billion medical fraud ring in Los Angeles, in which he says he would fund his tax plan by cutting fraud (Oct. 22); and a post quoting a California Post street video in which Los Angeles residents did not recognize Becerra (Oct. 22). Figures and descriptions in these posts are Hilton’s; we did not check them.
- Becerra: at a Bakersfield rally Thursday night with congressional candidate Randy Villegas and long-term care workers, he criticized Rep. David Valadao’s vote for H.R. 1, saying it “gutted a trillion dollars out of health care and sent the money to tax cuts for billionaires and corporations,” per KBAK (KBAK/KBFX). He posted video of a Coachella Valley event with Assembly candidate Dr. Ida Obeso-Martinez (Oct. 22), urged both sides in the SEIU Local 1000 talks to “negotiate in good faith” (Oct. 22) and wrote that he defended no-copay cancer screenings as HHS secretary (Oct. 23). No new Becerra sit-down interview found since Oct. 21.
- Polls: no new head-to-head public poll found since Emerson (Oct. 21).
Thursday, October 22, 2026 — as of 9:45 a.m. PT
- Video re-cut (2:56): adds Hilton’s housing-fees video (Oct. 22), his ABC7 interview (Oct. 19, aired Oct. 21), his Pomona $3-gas video (Oct. 21) and Becerra’s ABC7 remarks (Oct. 19, aired Oct. 21). Dropped: KPIX, ballot video, Skid Row ad, Pratt ad, ABC10 (Oct. 14) and ABC10 Indio. Clip list below.
- ABC7 (KGO), Monica Madden (story posted Wed. evening, Oct. 21): In a Monday interview, asked whether having no encampments in California is realistic, Hilton said, “Yes, it is” and “It’s not just possible. It’s essential.” ABC7 reports he proposes up to 30 recovery centers of about 5,000 people each, pointed to a site on unused federal land near MCAS Miramar as a model, would end funding for Housing First and harm-reduction programs, and would back law enforcement for people who refuse help. He said, “We’re not talking about building apartment buildings. This is temporary shelter,” and blamed “one-party rule.” ABC7 notes he has not given a statewide construction timeline or cost estimate. At a Monday East Bay housing event Becerra said, “We have to do everything we can to prevent them from falling into homelessness,” called for clearing encampments with shelter and treatment available, and said groups that get state money “and you didn’t do anything, we’re going to have to close you down”; ABC7 says he gave no first-year numerical target (ABC7 News; ABC7 on X).
- Pomona $3 gas (Wed., Oct. 21): Hilton posted videos from a Pomona gas station offering gas at $3 a gallon (“POMONA: $3.00 gas is on me!”); he wrote that he had brought $3 gas to Crenshaw the week before and that the Pomona line “was wrapped around the block” (video; announcement; voters). Line sizes are Hilton’s descriptions. He listed stops that day in Mission Viejo, Pomona, downtown Los Angeles and Bakersfield (Hilton on X).
- Housing fees (Thu., Oct. 22): Hilton posted that government fees and regulations add about $200,000 to the price of an average new California home and that as governor he would cap “impact fees” at $50,000, which he said would take $150,000 off the price (Hilton on X). These are his figures; we did not check them.
- Also from Hilton on X: a video of voters, described by Hilton as Democrats, questioning him on homelessness, schools and electric bills (Oct. 21), and a video Hilton describes as a whistleblower account about a migrant-child shelter in Pomona; these are his campaign’s allegations, not verified findings (Oct. 22).
- Becerra: posted an endorsement video from state Sen. Lola Smallwood-Cuevas (Oct. 21) and a get-out-the-vote video (Oct. 21). A Working Families Party listing shows a Becerra get-out-the-vote rally in Riverside today, Oct. 22, at 4 p.m. (Mobilize).
- Polls: no new head-to-head public poll found since Emerson (Oct. 21). KTLA reported the Emerson numbers Wednesday (KTLA on X).
Wednesday, October 21, 2026 — as of 9:45 a.m. PT
- Video re-cut (3:05): adds Hilton’s Golden Gate tolls video (Oct. 21), Univision 34 forum clips posted by Hilton and by Becerra (Oct. 20; Spanish, with our English subtitles), KTVU and KPIX (Oct. 20). Older clips dropped. Clip list below.
- Univision 34 forum (Tue., Oct. 20): “Los Latinos Preguntan: Los Candidatos Responden,” moderated by Gabriela Tessier and Octavio Valdez, with recorded questions from community members. Per Univision’s summary, Hilton said “Como gobernador, tienes que seguir la ley” (“As governor, you have to follow the law”), cited the state’s SB 54, and said immigration enforcement is the federal government’s job; proposed suspending “hidden” gas taxes and raising in-state oil production to reach $3 gas; said he would end the homelessness crisis by the end of his first year; and said success would mean people no longer leaving California. Becerra said he would cut red tape and treat housing as an emergency, freeze energy and home-insurance bills, keep health care for people “como mi madre o mi papá” (“like my mother or my father”), and would not take part in raids on working immigrant families; asked about reporting on unaccompanied migrant children, he pointed to his testimony to Congress (Univision; La Opinión; full program on YouTube).
- After the forum: Hilton posted his housing answer and wrote, “I would have loved to hear Becerra’s plan. Too bad he refused to appear on stage with me and debate” (clip; post). Becerra posted clips of his answers (health care; Trump).
- Hilton interviews (Oct. 20): KTVU’s Greg Lee — Hilton put the cost of his income-tax cut at about $25 billion, to be paid for by canceling high-speed rail, cutting Medi-Cal fraud and a 5% efficiency saving; proposed pausing AI in classrooms for about six months; and said, “I’m not going to take orders from the White House” (KTVU via FOX 11). KPIX’s Max Darrow — Hilton called the ActiVote poll “a completely made-up poll” (CBS San Francisco). KESQ’s John White — full studio interview (KESQ). Newsmax’s Finnerty — Hilton urged high turnout to make the result “too big to rig” (Newsmax via Yahoo).
- Golden Gate tolls (Wed., Oct. 21): Hilton posted that the bridge’s construction costs were paid off in 1971 and that he would end tolls on bridges already paid for and fund maintenance from the state budget (Hilton on X). This is his proposal; we did not check the figures.
- “Assembly Line” ad: GV Wire reports a $1 million, 30-second AI-generated Hilton ad on Becerra’s handling of migrant children at HHS. Becerra spokesman Jonathan Underland called it “AI slop.” GV Wire says a 2024 inspector-general report corroborates the campaign’s numbers, though failing to account for children in tracking systems “does not necessarily establish that they are missing” (GV Wire, Oct. 21).
- Polls: Emerson College (Oct. 17–19, 1,000 likely voters, ±3.1): Becerra 60%, Hilton 33%, 7% undecided (Emerson). Call the Map average: Becerra +20.8 (Oct. 21).
Tuesday, October 20, 2026 — as of 12:45 p.m. PT
- Video re-cut (3:04): adds Spencer Pratt’s “Just Try It!” ad for Hilton (Oct. 19) and Hilton’s ballot video (Oct. 20); other clips shortened. Clip list below.
- Pratt ad (Mon., Oct. 19, 9:39 a.m. PT): Spencer Pratt, the former Los Angeles mayoral candidate, posted a 53-second ad: actors in a lounge urge a nervous friend to “just try it,” and the scene reveals a ballot marked for Steve Hilton. It ends with “Just try it! Steve Hilton for Governor” and “Ad paid for by Steve Hilton for Governor 2026.” Pratt wrote: “Steve Hilton said he’d buy me a gallon of gas if I produced a viral ad for his campaign… It’s time to vote different.” As of 12:30 p.m. PT Tuesday, X showed 295,376 video views, 493,421 post impressions, 49,597 likes and 10,961 reposts (Pratt on X). Hilton does not appear in the ad. Neither the post nor the ad carries an AI label; Hilton told CalMatters the earlier “Just Try It” ads used real actors and were not AI-generated (CalMatters, Oct. 6).
- Hilton on X (Tue., Oct. 20): a video of him returning his ballot, saying “the way we’re gonna clean up California is not a truck like this. It’s by voting” (ballot video), and a video with a Los Angeles teacher on reading scores (schools video). The figures in the schools post are Hilton’s.
- Becerra on ABC10 (published Oct. 20): in a sit-down with Alex Bell, Becerra said he would declare a housing emergency, add permit “shot clocks” and expand down-payment aid; said he opposes cutting the gas tax because it pays for road and bridge repairs; and said he would clear encampments on state property such as freeway overpasses. Bell said she had requested the interview since July and was given 10 minutes (ABC10; YouTube). Listed under Becerra interviews.
- Polls: no new public poll since this morning’s update.
Tuesday, October 20, 2026 — as of 9:30 a.m. PT
- New video (3:12), shorter on text: Hilton’s Skid Row TV ad (Oct. 20), his Oct. 19 videos on homeless recovery centers and San Francisco, his $3-gas event video (posted Oct. 17), Fox Business (Oct. 16), the Ankler (Oct. 15) and ABC10 (Oct. 14); Becerra on KRON4 and ABC10 (Oct. 19) and ABC10 (Oct. 10).
- Skid Row ad (Tue., Oct. 20): Hilton posted that the campaign spent $1 million to air the unedited Skid Row video statewide (Hilton on X; ad on YouTube). The ad-buy figure is the campaign’s.
- Letter to DHS (Mon., Oct. 19): Hilton wrote to Secretary Markwayne Mullin seeking records, including the laptop of former contractor supervisor Tarek “Joey” Kadourah, and wrote that the campaign was told Homeland Security Investigations is examining the matter. The Post reports the letter offers no independent confirmation of that and does not establish that the allegations were substantiated. Becerra spokesman Jonathan Underland: Hilton is “inventing Q-Anon brainrot to distract from a weak policy platform” (New York Post; Hilton on X).
- On the trail: Hilton campaigned in San Francisco on Oct. 19 (Hilton on X) and on Oct. 20 posted a plan to expand paid family leave (Hilton on X). Becerra toured an affordable-housing project near the El Cerrito BART station with Assemblymember Buffy Wicks (KRON4), pitched his “Power Hour” free-midday-electricity proposal at an Indio rally (ABC10; campaign plan) and met with Black leaders from across Southern California (Becerra on X).
- Money and visibility: Becerra has raised $40.5 million and Hilton $29 million, per state filings cited by the Los Angeles Times (Oct. 19), which reports Becerra has stepped up public events and begun TV ads as mail ballots arrive.
- Polls: no new public poll since ActiVote (Oct. 16). Call the Map average unchanged at Becerra +19.6 (Oct. 20). Berkeley IGS says it is polling Oct. 19–25.
- Becerra interviews: EFE interview published Oct. 20; listed below.
Sunday, October 18, 2026 — as of 10:45 p.m. PT
- Video re-cut: new clips from Hilton’s Ankler (Oct. 15), Clay Travis & Buck Sexton (Oct. 14), NewsNation (Oct. 13) and Fox News (Oct. 10) interviews, and Becerra’s ABC7 (Oct. 12) and ABC10 (Oct. 10) interviews.
- Homelessness plan (Sat., Oct. 17): Hilton said every encampment in the state would be cleared by Dec. 31, 2027, using “Homeless Recovery Centers” modeled on the Sunbreak Ranch project in San Diego County (10News/CNS; Next News Network). These are the campaign’s plans and figures. Becerra’s campaign had not responded when the City News Service story ran; his plan is on his campaign site.
- Rally (Sun., Oct. 18, 11 a.m.–1 p.m.): Grand Century Mall, Little Saigon, 1111 Story Road, San Jose (Santa Clara County Republican Party listing; event video, Vietnamese-language channel).
- Polls: ActiVote (Oct. 16) Becerra 62.8%, Hilton 37.2%; Manhattan Institute (Sept. 24–Oct. 1) 55%–38%. Hilton’s own campaign poll (Oct. 1–2) showed 45.7%–40.1%.
- Becerra: Tavis Smiley interview Oct. 16 (audio); ABC7 one-on-one Oct. 12; ABC10 stop Oct. 10.
Interviews: Steve Hilton (R) (newest first)
| Date | Outlet / program | Notes | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct. 23 | HILTON (R) HBO Real Time with Bill Maher — panel with Gov. Andy Beshear, plus Overtime | Polls, Democratic voters, one-party rule; DMV, nuclear power, corruption (Overtime) • in the video • full episode on HBO Max | Overtime • clip |
| Oct. 23 | HILTON (R) CalMatters (via KVPR) — Rachel Becker (print) | Water policy: storage, desalination, recycling | read |
| Oct. 22 | HILTON (R) FOX26 (KMPH, Fresno) — Madison Macay | Polls, fundraising, Trump endorsement, Central Valley ICE detentions (20-minute interview; full video on FOX26 YouTube) • in the video | watch |
| Oct. 21 | HILTON (R) ABC7 News (KGO) — Monica Madden (interviewed Mon., Oct. 19) | Homelessness: encampments, recovery centers, Housing First • in the video | watch |
| Oct. 20 | HILTON (R) N+ Univision 34 — forum Los Latinos Preguntan (Tessier, Valdez) | 30-minute interview in Spanish: housing, gas, taxes, homelessness, immigration • in the video (clip Hilton posted) | watch |
| Oct. 20 | HILTON (R) KTVU FOX 2 — Greg Lee (aired on FOX 11) | About 15 minutes: tax plan, AI in schools, voter rolls, immigration • in the video | watch |
| Oct. 20 | HILTON (R) KPIX CBS News Bay Area — Max Darrow, Marin Headlands | Campaign stop and short interview: polls, Trump endorsement • in the video | watch |
| Oct. 20 | HILTON (R) KESQ News Channel 3 (Palm Springs) — John White | Full studio interview | watch |
| Oct. 20 | HILTON (R) Newsmax — Finnerty | Turnout and the election system (Newsmax article) | read |
| Oct. 17 | HILTON (R) Fox News — Jesse Watters Primetime | Tech, Elon Musk and California leadership | watch |
| Oct. 17 | HILTON (R) Times of San Diego (profile with interview) | Taxes, housing, homelessness | read |
| Oct. 16 | HILTON (R) Fox Business — Varney & Co. | Prop. 40 and his tax plan • in the video | watch |
| Oct. 15 | HILTON (R) The Ankler — Ankler Agenda podcast | Hollywood plan and the business climate • in the video | watch/listen |
| Oct. 14 | HILTON (R) The Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Show | Taxes, polls, voters | watch/listen |
| Oct. 14 | HILTON (R) ABC10 (Sacramento): candidate sit-down | About 21 minutes: taxes, gas, housing • in the video | watch/listen |
| Oct. 13 | HILTON (R) NewsNation Town Hall | Affordability | watch/listen |
| Oct. 12 | HILTON (R) Newsweek — The 1600 | Full interview, about 54 minutes | watch/listen |
| Oct. 10 | HILTON (R) Fox News | Cost of living, Skid Row | watch/listen |
| Oct. 7 | HILTON (R) Voice of San Diego podcast | Gubernatorial forum interview | watch/listen |
| Oct. 6 | HILTON (R) Los Angeles Times — Decision California | Town-hall discussion on the governor’s race | watch/listen |
Interviews: Xavier Becerra (D) (newest first)
| Date | Outlet / program | Notes | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct. 21 | BECERRA (D) FOX 11 Los Angeles — in-depth interview (posted 4:58 p.m. PT) | “Do more, do better”: his plans for California (found Oct. 23) | watch |
| Oct. 22 | BECERRA (D) KBAK/KBFX Eyewitness News — Bakersfield rally report (Michelle Roldan) | Report on his rally with Randy Villegas; health care and H.R. 1; not a sit-down • in the video | watch |
| Oct. 21 | BECERRA (D) ABC7 News (KGO) — Monica Madden, at an East Bay housing event (Mon., Oct. 19) | Homelessness prevention and accountability for state-funded programs • in the video | watch |
| Oct. 20 | BECERRA (D) N+ Univision 34 — forum Los Latinos Preguntan (Tessier, Valdez) | 30-minute interview in Spanish: housing emergency, utility bills, health care, immigration • in the video (clips Becerra posted) | watch |
| Oct. 20 | BECERRA (D) ABC10 (Sacramento) — Alex Bell sit-down | Housing emergency, gas tax, utilities, homelessness; with analyst panel | watch |
| Oct. 20 | BECERRA (D) EFE (Spanish-language wire service), via Infobae | Interview in Los Angeles: Trump, his immigrant family, priorities (in Spanish) | read |
| Oct. 19 | BECERRA (D) KRON4 — El Cerrito housing event (Charles Clifford report) | Remarks on affordable housing • in the video | watch |
| Oct. 19 | BECERRA (D) ABC10 — Indio rally report | “Power Hour” electricity plan • in the video | watch |
| Oct. 17 | BECERRA (D) Reecie Colbert (YouTube) | Posted Oct. 17, but the conversation refers to the June 2 primary as upcoming, so it appears to have been recorded earlier | watch/listen |
| Oct. 16 | BECERRA (D) Tavis Smiley, KBLA 1580 (radio/podcast) | In-studio interview; audio only | watch/listen |
| Oct. 13 | BECERRA (D) Times of San Diego (Andrew Keatts) | Interview in the Oct. 13 newsletter (added Oct. 20) | read |
| Oct. 12 | BECERRA (D) ABC7 News Bay Area — Monica Madden one-on-one | One-on-one interview | watch/listen |
| Oct. 10 | BECERRA (D) ABC10 (Sacramento) — Jenny He, campaign stop | Answers Hilton’s criticism • in the video | watch/listen |
| Oct. 7 | BECERRA (D) ABC10 — Escondido campaign stop (news report) | Report on Becerra’s stop; not a sit-down | watch/listen |
| Oct. 6 | BECERRA (D) KTVU FOX 2 — full interview with Greg Lee | Full-length interview | watch/listen |
The Univision 34 forum aired Tuesday night, Oct. 20; both interviews are listed above (full program; TelevisaUnivision).
Polls (click to open)
| Poll | Dates | Sample | Becerra | Hilton | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emerson College | Oct. 17–19 | 1,000 likely voters, ±3.1 | 60% | 33% | 7% undecided; released Oct. 21 (with Inside California Politics) |
| ActiVote | Sept. 24–Oct. 16 | 400 likely voters, ±4.9 | 62.8% | 37.2% | Released Oct. 16 |
| Manhattan Institute | Sept. 24–Oct. 1 | 1,000 likely voters | 55% | 38% | 7% undecided; released Oct. 9 (Call the Map lists 57%–39%) |
| IVC Media | about Sept. 28 | 2,906 likely voters | 48% | 38% | 11% undecided (listed by Call the Map) |
| SurveyUSA | Sept. 15–20 | 742 likely voters | 55% | 33% | Listed by Call the Map Oct. 15 (added Oct. 20) |
| Berkeley IGS | about Sept. 20 | 4,512 likely voters | 58% | 33% | Listed by Call the Map |
| Hilton campaign poll (David Wolfson) | Oct. 1–2 | 1,020 voters | 45.7% | 40.1% | Commissioned by the Hilton campaign; 14.1% undecided; reported by the CA Post, cited by the California Globe |
Public-poll average on Oct. 21: Becerra +20.8, up from +19.6 on Oct. 18 after the Emerson poll was added (Call the Map, 13 polls). Berkeley IGS says it is polling Oct. 19–25 (IGS). In his Oct. 14 Clay Travis interview Hilton said the traditional polls assume a Republican turnout like past years and that polls “more of the moment” show a gap under 10 points. That is his explanation; we have not verified it. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026.
Claims and checks (click to open)
- Hilton’s tax plan. No state income tax on the first $150,000 of income, and remaining income taxes capped at 8%. The Sacramento Bee found no third-party assessment; Hilton said his campaign puts the cost at about $25 billion a year for each prong of the cut, and he proposes paying for it with high-speed-rail savings and “Operation Zero Waste” spending cuts. Becerra said the plan gives millionaires a 40% tax cut; the Bee confirmed that the top rate would fall about 40% (13.3% to 8%). A left-leaning budget group called the plan “not a plausible plan” (Sacramento Bee, Oct. 12).
- Hilton’s savings figure. In the Clay Travis interview he said his plans would save a typical California family $11,047 a year and pointed to savewithsteve.vote. That is a campaign calculation; we have not verified it.
- Gas. Hilton says hidden taxes make California gas about $2 a gallon higher than the rest of the country and that his plan would reach $3 gas. These are his claims and proposals; we did not check them for this edition.
- Debates. The only face-to-face general-election debate so far was CNN’s in Burbank on Sept. 30 (Sacramento Bee; California Globe). Hilton posted on Oct. 5 that Becerra pulled out of an LA Times debate and on Oct. 9 that he backed out of a Univision debate, citing a “scheduling conflict.” Those are Hilton’s statements as reported by the Globe; we found no Becerra response. Univision’s Oct. 20 program was a forum with separate interviews of both men, not a debate (TelevisaUnivision); afterward Hilton posted that Becerra “refused to appear on stage with me and debate” (Hilton on X).
- Debate-viewer numbers. Hilton’s Oct. 5 post cites a poll of debate viewers favoring him 74% to 20%; in the Oct. 14 interview he said 72% thought he won. The poll’s sponsor is not identified in the reporting we found.
- Homelessness figures. Hilton cites the 2025 federal count of 181,934 homeless Californians (115,583 unsheltered) and almost $24 billion in state spending, and says the state auditor found spending was not consistently tracked. Reports attribute these to Hilton; Next News Network said it could not independently verify them (10News/CNS; Next News Network).
- Hollywood. Hilton’s plan (Oct. 14): a 40% production credit, possibly 50% for five years, no $750 million cap, rolling approvals within 30 days, and state-backed studio financing, at an unknown cost. Both candidates acknowledge about 52,000 lost production jobs statewide in four years; Becerra has not said whether he would remove the cap (Variety).
- Univision forum figures. Hilton said government fees and regulations add about $200,000 to the cost of each new home, that California has about a million vacant lots, and that about 180,000 people are homeless statewide; Becerra tied higher gas prices to the war with Iran. These are the candidates’ statements (Univision; Hilton on X); we did not check them for this edition.
- Housing fees and recovery centers. Hilton’s $200,000 fees figure and $50,000 cap proposal (Oct. 22) and his plan for up to 30 recovery centers of about 5,000 people each are his figures and proposals; ABC7 reports he has not given a statewide construction timeline or cost estimate (ABC7; Hilton on X).
- Poll figures on Real Time. Maher said Hilton “can’t get within 20 points” and asked about making up 25; Hilton cited an unnamed poll “today” at about half that and one last week at six points. Those are the speakers’ figures (clip posted by Hilton).
- Polls dispute. Hilton told FOX26 he doubts the Emerson poll (Becerra 60%, Hilton 33%); that is his view. Emerson’s numbers and method are on its release (FOX26).
- Becerra’s statements. In the ABC7 interview he said “I certainly will be a different governor” and cited his national and state experience; he opposes the billionaire-tax measure on the ballot (Prop. 40) and supports Prop. 3. These are his positions and self-descriptions (Sacramento Bee; ABC7).
Endorsements (click to open)
The President endorsed Hilton in April 2026. In a Truth Social post reported on April 6, Trump wrote: “I have known and respected Steve Hilton, who is running for Governor of California, for many years. He is a truly fine man…” and said he would help Hilton as President. Hilton responded: “I’m grateful for the president’s support. Together, we can turn things around and make California truly golden again” (CalMatters). On Oct. 6 Hilton named areas where he disagrees with the President, including University of California funding cuts (Los Angeles Times). The California Republican Party now lists Hilton as its endorsed candidate (CiteLine). On Oct. 19 Spencer Pratt posted that Hilton “has earned our votes,” and Hilton reposted it (Pratt on X).
Photos (video frames, credited)
Clips used under fair use for news commentary; sources credited below.
Clip list and credits
- 0:00 — Title card (our graphic; cowbell)
- 0:03 — HILTON — Hilton campaign on X, dairy farm in Hilmar, May 30, 2025 — “Cow showers” (9 s) — source
- 0:12 — BILL MAHER — HBO Real Time with Bill Maher, Oct. 23, clip posted on X by Blue Georgia — his question (two excerpts, 9 s and 11 s) — source
- 0:33 — HILTON — HBO Real Time, Oct. 23, clip posted on X by Hilton — “a proud American”; “polls, not votes”; “we absolutely have a shot” (two excerpts, 8 s and 51 s) — source
- 1:31 — Cows (USDA, public domain) with a moo
- 1:36 — HILTON — Overtime with Bill Maher, Oct. 23, Real Time on YouTube — abolishing the DMV; $73 registration cap (36 s) — source
- 2:12 — Calves (USDA, public domain) with a calf moo and a cowbell
- 2:16 — JOE ROGAN / HILTON — The Joe Rogan Experience #2542 (Aug. 19), clip posted on X by Hilton Oct. 22 — “I really hope you win” (15 s) — source
- 2:30 — Sunset ride with ranchers, Madera (Hilton campaign on X, May 30, 2025; no speech) with an added horse whinny — source
- 2:33 — HILTON — FOX26 (KMPH) Fresno, Madison Macay interview, Oct. 22 — the Emerson poll (17 s) — source
- 2:50 — Cows (USDA, public domain) with a moo
- 2:53 — Sources & credits card (our graphic)
Cows, moos, cowbells and the horse (stock and sound effects, not from a Hilton event unless noted): cow and calf video — U.S. Department of Agriculture (FPAC, Preston Keres), Rock Hill Orchard dairy, Mt. Airy, Md., Feb. 9, 2022, public domain (cows, calves) • moos — “Cow Moos #1” and “Cow moos #3” by Joseph Sardin, BigSoundBank, CC0 (#1, #3) • calf moo — “Bovines - Cattle; Calf Bawling, Single” by TheKingOfGeeks360, Freesound, CC0 (source) • cowbell — Steve Wolff (original recording) • horse whinny — “horse’s whinny” by Kubuzz, Freesound, CC0 (source). All are real recordings; no synthesized sound. The cow-shower and ranch-ride footage is from the Hilton campaign’s own posts.
Full list with source timecodes and fact sources: SOURCES.txt.
