Republican Steve Hilton brought his campaign for California governor to Pacific Palisades on Sunday, using a rally in the fire-stricken Los Angeles neighborhood to challenge Democrats’ record on disaster preparation and recovery. With voters set to choose the next governor Tuesday, Hilton blamed state and local leadership for the destruction and the pace of rebuilding.
The community suffered extensive damage during the January 2025 wildfires. The Palisades Fire consumed more than 23,000 acres and destroyed about 6,800 structures, including many homes. Strong winds and dry conditions fueled the blaze, which forced tens of thousands of residents from their homes and left large parts of the neighborhood facing a substantial reconstruction effort.
Speaking to supporters and residents, Hilton expressed sorrow over the losses but argued that the disaster could have been prevented. He described Pacific Palisades as “a symbol of 16 years of Democrat failure,” linking the devastation to his broader criticism of how the state has been governed. His remarks presented wildfire prevention, emergency response and rebuilding as connected failures of Democratic leadership.
Democrats have occupied the California governor’s office for the past 16 years. Hilton is running against Democrat Xavier Becerra, who previously served as California attorney general and as Health and Human Services secretary under President Joe Biden. The two candidates are competing to replace Gov. Gavin Newsom, who cannot seek another term because of term limits.
Hilton, a former Fox News commentator and onetime adviser to British Prime Minister David Cameron, has centered his campaign on criticism of California’s Democratic leaders. At Sunday’s rally, he accused officials at both the state and local levels of inadequate preparation before the fires and insufficient help afterward. He attributed those shortcomings to what he called “incompetence, ideology and corruption.”
Environmental and land-management policies also came under attack. Hilton argued that insufficient brush clearance contributed to the destruction, referring to both Pacific Palisades and Altadena. He accused officials of deliberately choosing not to clear brush that he said could have prevented the fires.
As a response to the rebuilding delays, Hilton promised to appoint a recovery CEO if elected. He said his conversations with residents had convinced him that they had waited too long for progress. Closing the rally, he urged voters to reject the assumption that California must remain under Democratic control and pledged to fight for the state.
