Winds of change?

Mary Jackson has spent most of her adult life in California, where she’s very much in the political minority. But as her story, Have Californians had enough?, in this issue, that could be changing. Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton has given Californians the first chance in decades of electing someone other than a Democrat to a statewide office.

Because of California’s primary system, voters are often left to choose between two Democrats in the general election. What’s it like to face that kind of choice in the ballot box? It’s discouraging. An old family friend, a Christian and longtime pro-life advocate in our area, puts together a list of ballot recommendations with a brief explanation about each choice. We pass it around the family. Invariably, we’re either picking the lesser between two evils, the local or statewide candidate we believe will do less harm. Or sometimes, we’re leaving a ballot choice blank, because both stand for equally awful policies.

Are your friends and fellow conservatives excited about having a real choice in November? I’d say there’s more motivation to vote and voice support. Hilton does not claim Christianity or take a strong stance on some issues we care about, such as abortion. But many of his policies are pro-family and pro-business. He’s making bold promises and perhaps that’s a signal of some course correction on the horizon.

What surprised you most about the voters you talked to at Hilton’s rally in San Francisco? I was surprised that the event was a full house and many who raised their hands to speak identified themselves as lifelong Democrats. The atmosphere was subdued but highly engaged. It was less a pep rally and more one where people genuinely wanted to know what Hilton stands for and whether he’s compelling enough to earn their support, even if he is a Trump-endorsed Republican.

What other signs do you see that Californians are getting fed up with the state’s liberal policies? One poll in May found that nearly 60% of Californians believe the state is headed in the wrong direction. Two years ago, voters reversed the state’s soft-on-crime approach. In San Francisco, the moderate Democratic mayor recently proposed a new, outcome-­driven approach to homelessness and addiction to address what he labeled a “failing system.” As the election approaches, other polls show affordability at the top of most Californian’s list of most important issues. Yet Democratic politicians can’t agree over whether to support a proposed “billionaire tax.”

Do you think Hilton’s campaign will have a lasting effect in California, even if he loses in November? While other places are seeing a rise in democratic socialism, it appears there’s a growing appetite for populist conservatism—or at the very least, more moderate Democrats. Hilton may motivate more conservatives to not give up. I doubt he’ll disappear.