California Gubernatorial Candidate Steve Hilton Joins ‘Save Girls Sports’ Movement

Steve Hilton, a leading Republican candidate for the California governorship, joined the ‘Save Girls Sports’ movement on Friday. He criticized Democratic opponents for supporting transgender athletes, with only five days left until the primaries.

AB Hernandez, a transgender athlete from Jurupa Valley High School, is set to compete for a state championship for a second consecutive year. Hilton condemned Tom Steyer and Xavier Becerra for endorsing males in girls’ sports.

Earlier, Steyer shared a video with Hernandez, expressing pride in the athlete’s accomplishments and wishing success in the upcoming girls’ championships. Supporters gathered at the 2026 CIF State Track & Field Championships for a ‘Save Girls’ Sports’ press conference in Clovis, California, on May 29, 2026.

“Tom Steyer has taken a stance on this issue that disconnects with most California families and young people.” – Steve Hilton

Steyer criticized another Democratic frontrunner, Xavier Becerra, who has shown support for transgender athletes but has remained quieter on the issue than Steyer in recent weeks.

Hilton also voiced his strategy for addressing the transgender athlete issue if elected. He aims to repeal AB 1266, a law passed in 2013, which he claims violates the state constitution. He plans to suspend it immediately and initiate legal proceedings to overturn it.

California has been central to the national debate on transgender athletes in women’s sports. Controversy rose when Hernandez won two girls’ state titles last year and involved the Jurupa Valley’s girls’ volleyball team. This led to multiple forfeit incidents and a Title IX lawsuit filed by teammates against the Jurupa Unified School District.

The CIF introduced a pilot program granting female athletes finishing behind Hernandez a spot higher, leading to podium sharing. This policy continues into this weekend’s finals, drawing criticism from all sides, including Hernandez’s mother.

Hilton addressed transgender athletes and their families, advocating for individual rights without impacting the majority negatively.

“People’s rights must be protected, but not at the cost of the vast majority.” – Steve Hilton

Hilton was joined at the rally by former NCAA soccer player Sophia Lorey, state superintendent candidate Sonja Shaw, and Olympic gold medalist Stephanie Brown.

With the primaries approaching, Hilton’s position echoes the preference of many Californians. A Public Policy Institute of California survey last year showed strong support for requiring transgender athletes to compete in teams that match their birth-assigned sex.