In an exclusive AgNet West interview, Nick Papagni, “the Ag Meter”, sat down with Steve Hilton, candidate for Governor of California, to discuss the future of the Golden State.
A Candidate’s Bold Vision for California
Hilton emphasized that California’s challenges—from agriculture to freight to housing—are solvable, and he believes executive leadership can reverse the state’s decline.
“100%. I’m not saying it’s going to be easy… but all of these things can be reversed,” Hilton said. “Particularly the ag stuff—you can do very direct executive action.”
Reversing California’s Decline
Hilton described California as the “Wuhan lab of far-left extremism,” arguing that the state has been subjected to one-party ideological experiments for the past 15 years. His solution? Remove regulatory overreach and prioritize working Californians.
He promised to roll back harmful regulations, slash bureaucracy, and remove ideologues from key agencies like CARB and the State Water Resources Board.
Agriculture at the Center of the Fight
As a vocal supporter of California’s agriculture, Hilton made it clear: “You’re not going to have a stronger champion for ag than me.”
He criticized the treatment of family farms, particularly in the Central Valley and Point Reyes, where farmers have faced lawsuits and land grabs fueled by environmental NGOs. He pointed to the solar farm expansion in fertile regions as a particularly “outrageous” misuse of prime ag land.
“We have the most fertile soil in the world, and they’re ripping out farms and replacing them with solar panels.”
Fixing Water, Labor, and Energy Costs
Hilton highlighted several crises plaguing farmers: unreliable water allocations, broken labor policies, and soaring fuel and electricity prices.
He vowed to replace the current water board leadership and implement practical, consistent policies for water usage, including ending the practice of flushing 75% of snowpack into the ocean.
Point Reyes and the Battle for Family Farms
Referring to Stephanie Moretta and the Point Reyes situation, Hilton condemned the coordinated effort by government agencies and NGOs to oust century-old family farms.
“It’s a perfect example of the insanity,” Hilton said. “We’re going to keep this what it should be—ranch land.”
He visited Point Reyes during the second week of his campaign, pledging to work with federal partners to reverse the damaging agreements made during the Biden administration.
Reclaiming Environmentalism
Hilton framed farmers as the true environmentalists. “They understand the land better than anyone,” he said, adding that the so-called environmental activists pushing extreme policies are “fake” and disconnected from reality.
The Political Path Forward
Hilton ended the interview with a direct appeal to California voters. If the same number of voters who supported President Trump in 2024 turn out in 2026, he believes a Republican governor is not only possible—it’s within reach.
“We can do this. But I can’t do it for you. I can only do it with you.”
He urged listeners to visit stevehiltonforgovernor.com to volunteer, donate, and join the campaign.
—-Nick Papagni, “the Ag Meter”, reporting for AgNet West.