Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton took his general election campaign to Boyle Heights on Wednesday, using the neighborhood’s ongoing recovery from the devastating warehouse fire to appeal to Latino voters and argue that California’s Democratic leadership has failed working-class communities.
Standing near the site of the fire, Hilton framed the neighborhood’s lingering challenges—including complaints about odors, environmental concerns and disruptions to daily life—as evidence of what he described as ineffective government leadership. Rather than focusing on national politics, he urged voters to judge candidates based on California’s performance on issues such as affordability, public safety, housing and the cost of living.
“The working class has been abandoned,” Hilton said, contending that state and local leaders have failed to deliver timely solutions to residents affected by the fire and to Californians struggling with rising costs.
The choice of Boyle Heights carried political significance. The historic East Los Angeles neighborhood is predominantly Latino and has long been a Democratic stronghold. By launching his general election push there, Hilton signaled an effort to broaden Republican support among Latino voters who may be frustrated by inflation, high housing costs and concerns over public safety.
Hilton argued that the warehouse fire had become more than an isolated disaster. In his view, the weeks-long cleanup and the continued impact on nearby residents reflected broader problems in California’s approach to governance and emergency response. He criticized state and local officials, including Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, accusing them of failing to respond with sufficient urgency to the community’s concerns.
Throughout the event, Hilton tied the Boyle Heights recovery to the central themes of his campaign: lowering energy and gasoline costs, reducing taxes, improving public safety and making California more affordable for working families. He also encouraged voters to separate state issues from national partisan politics, arguing that the governor’s race should be decided on who can improve life in California rather than on views about President Donald Trump.
Notably, Hilton’s criticism focused on government leadership and the response to the aftermath of the fire rather than on the warehouse operator, Lineage. There were no reported remarks blaming or criticizing the company itself during the event.
The visit underscores Republicans’ broader effort to make inroads with Latino voters ahead of November’s election by emphasizing economic issues and government accountability in communities that have traditionally supported Democratic candidates.
