California’s Republican gubernatorial frontrunner, Steve Hilton, recently joined the debate on the role of transgender athletes in girls’ sports. With five days left until the primaries, Hilton criticized his Democratic opponents for their stance on the matter.
Transgender athlete AB Hernandez from Jurupa Valley High School is set to compete for a state championship for the second consecutive year. Hilton voiced opposition to Tom Steyer and Xavier Becerra for supporting transgender athletes in girls’ sports.
Steyer had shared a video supporting Hernandez, expressing pride and hope for Hernandez’s success in the girls’ championships. Hilton responded by accusing Steyer of being out of touch with most Californian families.
Hilton also criticized Becerra, claiming he is a career politician who consistently supports the left’s agenda. Hilton outlined his strategy to address the issue, including overturning law AB 1266, which was passed in 2013 and allowed transgender student-athletes to participate based on their gender identity.
Hernandez’s presence in women’s and girls’ sports has elevated debate nationwide. Last year, Hernandez won two girls’ state titles, leading to further discussions.
“The first thing we have to do is overturn the law that set all this in motion, AB 1266,” Hilton said. “That law violates the California state constitution… I will immediately suspend the law while we begin legal proceedings to overturn it.”
In response to growing controversies, the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) introduced a policy allowing any female athlete finishing behind Hernandez to claim one spot higher, which meant shared podium positions during recent state tournaments.
Hilton emphasized protecting rights while maintaining fairness. He acknowledged the rights of individuals to live as they choose but noted that it should not be at the expense of the majority.
“I absolutely respect the right of people to live their lives the way they want,” Hilton said. “But people’s rights must be protected at the cost of the vast majority…that’s got to stop.”
Hilton’s rally in Clovis, California, saw support from various figures, including former NCAA women’s soccer player Sophia Lorey and Olympic gold medalist Stephanie Brown. As the primaries approach, Hilton’s position on this issue aligns with a majority of Californians.
A Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) survey previously showed that 65% of Californians and 71% of public school parents support requiring transgender athletes to compete based on the sex assigned at birth, not their gender identity.