California has always been a place where ideas become opportunity — but over the last decade, we’ve made it harder for people to succeed here instead of easier. Small businesses are over-regulated, families are overtaxed, and innovators are leaving the state in record numbers. We aren’t losing talent because people stopped dreaming — we’re losing talent because California stopped rewarding hard work.
As a CEO, I’ve seen firsthand how policy decisions affect people in the real world — not on paper. When businesses close their doors or move to other states, it’s not just numbers or headlines — it’s jobs, stability, and livelihoods disappearing.
If we want a thriving California economy again, we have to start with the people who actually create jobs: small business owners, local entrepreneurs, and working families.
Where California is falling behind
Small businesses are responsible for a huge portion of California jobs, yet many feel they’re carrying the state instead of being supported by it. The most common complaints I hear are:
• Too many fees and permits just to operate
• Regulations that punish growth instead of encourage it
• Expensive workers’ comp and compliance costs
• No room to breathe or innovate
• Complicated tax codes that favor mega-corporations over startups
And for workers:
• Good-paying jobs are disappearing
• Living costs push families out of state
• Career pathways are unclear or inaccessible
An economy cannot be strong if the people in it feel like they’re barely holding on.
My approach: Empower the people who power California
We fix the economy by helping small businesses grow — not by weighing them down. As Governor, I will:
✔ Cut unnecessary regulations that choke growth
Businesses should spend their time hiring and serving customers — not navigating six departments of paperwork.
✔ Support startups and entrepreneurs
Lower barriers to entry so new businesses can launch more quickly and affordably.
✔ Provide tax relief for small and mid-sized businesses
The state should reward job creation, not penalize it.
✔ Encourage in-state growth, not relocation
If a business decides to expand, they shouldn’t feel forced to cross state lines to do it.
✔ Build pathways from the classroom into the workforce
Students should graduate with skills that lead directly to employment.
Jobs should reward work — not punish it
California has people who want to work, want to create, and want to build. But right now, the system is stacked against them. We need:
• More apprenticeship and trade programs
• Partnerships between schools and local employers
• Incentives for hiring locally
• Retraining programs for displaced workers
• Support for veterans and second-chance employment
When the economy works for everyone, communities become stronger, not just markets.
Keeping families in California
One of the most painful realities today is how many families feel like they have to leave the state just to maintain a decent quality of life. People aren’t leaving for “political reasons” — they’re leaving because it’s unaffordable to stay.
The best economic policy California can have is simple:
Make it possible for working people to live here with dignity.
That means:
✅ Lowering the cost of operating a business
✅ Expanding middle-income job opportunities
✅ Supporting wages that align with the cost of living
✅ Reducing the financial pressure on families
When families stay, businesses stay. When businesses stay, jobs stay.
Government should be a partner, not an obstacle
Right now, government acts like a toll booth. You can pass — if you pay.
Under my administration, government will act like a launch pad — supporting those who want to build value in this state.
This means:
• Faster approval timelines
• Simpler licensing processes
• One-stop portals for new business formation
• Real accountability when state offices delay or obstruct growth
Entrepreneurs should be spending their time creating — not waiting.
What success will look like
Success should be visible in people’s everyday lives:
✅ More local shops staying open
✅ More Californians working in California-owned businesses
✅ Lower barriers to starting or expanding a company
✅ Talent staying in the state instead of moving out
✅ A culture of innovation that includes everyone — not just big tech
A Strong Economy Starts with Strong People
California doesn’t need more government programs — it needs leadership that understands how jobs are actually created. Our economy is built from the ground up, not the top down.
When we champion local business, reward hard work, and bring stability back to working families, California thrives — not because the government made it prosper, but because the people finally could.