California · Governor · Tuesday, November 3, 2026
Where do the candidates stand on the economy and taxes?
- Xavier BecerraDemocrat
- Steve HiltonRepublican
Part of the full California Governor comparison · Last reviewed October 19, 2026
Economy & Taxes
Each position is labeled by what it rests on: a campaign proposal, a public statement, a past action such as a vote or lawsuit, or an enacted policy. Where nothing is documented, the page says so.
Documented positions
Xavier Becerra
Proposes freezing utility and insurance rates under a state of emergency and targeting what he considers price gouging; opposes the Proposition 40 wealth tax and supports Proposition 3.
Show the evidence (2)Hide the evidence
- Campaign proposal2026
Says he will declare a state of emergency to freeze insurance and utility rates and crack down on what he considers price gouging. His campaign site pledges to stand up to "price gouging and unjustified rate hikes," expand help with childcare and essential costs, and use state power to lower prices "where the market has failed." 3 sourcesWho are the 2026 California governor candidates? (opens in a new tab)CalMatters · Sept. 29, 2026 · NewsPriorities - Xavier Becerra (opens in a new tab)Becerra for Governor 2026 · Jan. 11, 2026 · CampaignXavier Becerra (opens in a new tab)Ballotpedia · Reference
- Public statementSept. 30, 2026
Opposes Proposition 40, a one-time 5% tax on residents with a net worth over $1 billion; in the Sept. 30, 2026 debate he said billionaires are "not paying their fair share" but that the measure "is not the way to do tax policy." He endorsed Proposition 3, which would make higher state income tax rates for high earners permanent to fund schools, and opposes suspending the state gas tax. 3 sourcesBecerra and Hilton clash over taxes, AI and immigration during the CNN California governor debate (opens in a new tab)CNN · Sept. 30, 2026 · NewsBecerra announces positions on key November ballot measures (opens in a new tab)Becerra for Governor 2026 · July 31, 2026 · CampaignXavier Becerra: A campaign focused on the cost of living and Donald Trump (opens in a new tab)Times of San Diego · Oct. 12, 2026 · News
- Campaign proposal2026
Says he will declare a state of emergency to freeze insurance and utility rates and crack down on what he considers price gouging. His campaign site pledges to stand up to "price gouging and unjustified rate hikes," expand help with childcare and essential costs, and use state power to lower prices "where the market has failed." 3 sourcesWho are the 2026 California governor candidates? (opens in a new tab)CalMatters · Sept. 29, 2026 · NewsPriorities - Xavier Becerra (opens in a new tab)Becerra for Governor 2026 · Jan. 11, 2026 · CampaignXavier Becerra (opens in a new tab)Ballotpedia · Reference
- Public statementSept. 30, 2026
Opposes Proposition 40, a one-time 5% tax on residents with a net worth over $1 billion; in the Sept. 30, 2026 debate he said billionaires are "not paying their fair share" but that the measure "is not the way to do tax policy." He endorsed Proposition 3, which would make higher state income tax rates for high earners permanent to fund schools, and opposes suspending the state gas tax. 3 sourcesBecerra and Hilton clash over taxes, AI and immigration during the CNN California governor debate (opens in a new tab)CNN · Sept. 30, 2026 · NewsBecerra announces positions on key November ballot measures (opens in a new tab)Becerra for Governor 2026 · July 31, 2026 · CampaignXavier Becerra: A campaign focused on the cost of living and Donald Trump (opens in a new tab)Times of San Diego · Oct. 12, 2026 · News
Steve Hilton
Proposes no state income tax on the first $150,000 of income and a flat 8% rate above it, paid for with spending cuts, plus reduced business regulation.
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- Campaign proposalSept. 2026
Proposes eliminating state income tax on the first $150,000 of income and taxing income above that at a flat 8% rate, including for the highest earners; he said he would pay for it by reducing state spending, including canceling the high-speed rail project, cutting payments to homelessness nonprofits he believes are failing to produce results and asking state departments to save 5%. 3 sourcesCalifornia governor's race: GOP candidate Steve Hilton pitches affordability agenda as he tries to close gap (opens in a new tab)ABC7 San Francisco · Sept. 25, 2026 · NewsWho are the 2026 California governor candidates? (opens in a new tab)CalMatters · Sept. 29, 2026 · NewsNo State Income Tax on Your First $150,000 (opens in a new tab)Steve Hilton for Governor · Campaign
- Campaign proposalApril 8, 2026
His campaign website said in April 2026 that he would sunset state regulations unless they are explicitly renewed, introduce regulatory budgets requiring agencies to remove rules before adding new ones, and require agencies that do not handle permits in a timely manner to refund their fees. CalMatters reported in September 2026 that he wants to eliminate the $800 fee for registering a company. 2 sourcesSteve Hilton (opens in a new tab)Ballotpedia · ReferenceWho are the 2026 California governor candidates? (opens in a new tab)CalMatters · Sept. 29, 2026 · News
- Campaign proposalSept. 2026
Proposes eliminating state income tax on the first $150,000 of income and taxing income above that at a flat 8% rate, including for the highest earners; he said he would pay for it by reducing state spending, including canceling the high-speed rail project, cutting payments to homelessness nonprofits he believes are failing to produce results and asking state departments to save 5%. 3 sourcesCalifornia governor's race: GOP candidate Steve Hilton pitches affordability agenda as he tries to close gap (opens in a new tab)ABC7 San Francisco · Sept. 25, 2026 · NewsWho are the 2026 California governor candidates? (opens in a new tab)CalMatters · Sept. 29, 2026 · NewsNo State Income Tax on Your First $150,000 (opens in a new tab)Steve Hilton for Governor · Campaign
- Campaign proposalApril 8, 2026
His campaign website said in April 2026 that he would sunset state regulations unless they are explicitly renewed, introduce regulatory budgets requiring agencies to remove rules before adding new ones, and require agencies that do not handle permits in a timely manner to refund their fees. CalMatters reported in September 2026 that he wants to eliminate the $800 fee for registering a company. 2 sourcesSteve Hilton (opens in a new tab)Ballotpedia · ReferenceWho are the 2026 California governor candidates? (opens in a new tab)CalMatters · Sept. 29, 2026 · News
In their own words
Statements
Xavier Becerra
Proposition 40 billionaire wealth tax
What you don’t do is you don’t have a policy where it’s a one time tax and it isn’t predictable and sustainable. We need to have policy that everyone sees is fair
Xavier Becerra · General-election debate with Steve Hilton, hosted by CNN in Burbank, explaining his opposition to the one-time wealth tax on the November ballot, as reported in CNN's live debate coverage · Sept. 30, 2026
SourceBecerra and Hilton clash over taxes, AI and immigration during the CNN California governor debate (opens in a new tab)CNN · Sept. 30, 2026 · News
Steve Hilton
Income tax cuts and state spending
The quickest way to get more money in people's pockets is for the government to take less out. That's what I'm going to be doing, and it's not coming from the budgets he describes. You know what it's coming from? Canceling high-speed rail
Steve Hilton · General-election debate with Xavier Becerra, hosted by CNN in Burbank, defending his plan to eliminate state income tax on the first $150,000 of income, as reported by ABC7 Los Angeles · Sept. 30, 2026
2 sourcesXavier Becerra, Steve Hilton clash over key issues in California gubernatorial debate (opens in a new tab)ABC7 Los Angeles · Sept. 30, 2026 · NewsHilton, Becerra clash over affordability, Trump and Newsom in California governor debate (opens in a new tab)KMPH FOX26 · Sept. 30, 2026 · News
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