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Press Release
Steve Hilton Doubles Down on Threats to California Abortion Providers at Final Debate
For Immediate Release: Friday, May 15, 2026
Contact: [email protected]
Steve Hilton Doubles Down on Threats to California Abortion Providers at Final Debate
Washington, DC — During last night’s final California gubernatorial debate hosted by CBS and the San Francisco Examiner, Steve Hilton was finally pressed on whether he would allow anti-abortion states to target California doctors for providing legal abortion care—a question made even more urgent by the escalating national fight over abortion access. Ahead of all three gubernatorial debates, Reproductive Freedom for All urged debate moderators to question Hilton about his previous comments on extraditing California doctors.
The exchange came just hours after the Supreme Court blocked the Fifth Circuit’s attempt to reinstate medically unnecessary, nationwide in-person dispensing requirements for mifepristone in Louisiana v. FDA, preserving access to medication abortion while the case continues.
Even with yesterday’s decision, Louisiana v. FDA remains one of the most significant abortion cases in the country and part of a coordinated national effort by anti-abortion politicians and judges to restrict medication abortion access nationwide and target providers in states where abortion remains legal and protected. Steve Hilton doubled down on his position, raising new concerns about whether California’s next governor would protect providers and patients or leave them vulnerable to coordinated attacks from anti-abortion states.
Reproductive Freedom for All President and CEO Mini Timmaraju released the following statement:
“Steve Hilton forcefully defended his dangerous position to allow anti-abortion states to target California doctors for delivering legal care. Californians need to know that Hilton would side with anti-abortion extremists over the providers and patients in his own state. The Trump administration is pushing us closer and closer to a nationwide abortion ban, and California needs a governor who will fight to protect reproductive freedom, not join in on dismantling it.”
Reproductive Freedom for All Senior Director of California Campaigns Kristin Slevin released the following statement:
“Last night, Steve Hilton doubled down that he is willing to let anti-abortion states come after California doctors for providing legal care. That’s not just out of step with California values; it’s a direct threat to the providers and patients who depend on this state as a safe haven. Californians have been clear: they want a governor who will protect reproductive freedom—not one who helps anti-abortion extremists criminalize care.”
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For over 55 years, Reproductive Freedom for All (formerly NARAL Pro-Choice America) has fought to protect and advance reproductive freedom at the federal and state levels—including access to abortion care, birth control, pregnancy and post-partum care, and paid family leave—for everybody. Reproductive Freedom for All is powered by its more than 4 million members from every state and congressional district in the country, representing the 8 in 10 Americans who support legal abortion.