First we hear from Republican candidate Travis Allen who is an ardent supporter of President Donald Trump and is confident that he can make California great again. He is counting on lighting us fire among conservative activists, tea party groups, and trumps supporters to propel him to a top to finish in tomorrow's primary. Capital public radios Bill Abbott started the interview while -- by asking why Allen thinks he is the most qualified person for the job . >> I was born in California, Southern California San Diego. I grew up five minutes from the boarder. I lived here my entire life. I watched as my parents, brother, best friend everybody left the state. My best friend lives in Texas and doubled the side of the south and pays no income taxes. I opened up my own company in 2001 that I run every day. I don't think that you should have career politicians in California. I think politicians should be forced to live in the real world and payroll taxes. In 2012, I realized that there was more than I can do. If I was going to stay in the state, and I have lived here for the last two decades in Huntington Beach, I have to do more. I could do more. I ran for an open seat in the California assembly. Since I've been in office, he stood for everything I promised my voters I would. I fought every single tax increase. I thought these crazy lies coming out of Sacramento. After six years come I realize that the only way to change the state is to take a top spot. >>> You have been a critic of California's new law signed by Jerry Brown that limits local law enforcement cooperation with federal immigration authorities known as the sanctuary state law. They say they may try to prosecute a lot to officials who voted for or elect sanctuary city policies. Should the federal government arrest Jerry Brown ? >> Absolutely. There is a federal immigration law that has to be followed by California. The sanctuary state is in a legal concept. It is clear that immigration is the specific duty of the federal government. Jerry Brown is breaking federal law by instituting this sanctuary state. I have pledged to reverse the slaughter my first days in office. We will do this by special election and put it on the ballot before the people of California and let the people of California decide. People of California are against the sanctuary state. This is Sheltering people in the state who are here illegally and committing crimes well here with taxpayer dollars. He walked down the street and ask any Californian no one agrees with the idea. It does not matter if you are rich or poor. What ethnic group you belong to. No one wants people here illegally committing crimes. >>> Name something you think Jerry Brown has done right. >> Jerry Brown is a legacy of failures. What has Jerry Brown ever done for the state of California. He promised the bullet train to nowhere not build. He wants Delta tunnels that I never build. They are a terrible idea. The problem is is that Jerry Brown is a lot of talk. We now have the highest in the nation poverty where one in five Californians live below the poverty line, we have the highest homeless population, and Californians are leaving in droves. A lot of us stayed because we believe the state was the greatest day in the nation. We know that we have to change things. >> You make the argument that you're the strongest top supporter in the race. In fact you endorsed Michael Rubio at first and then embraced Trump. What will you say to someone who has been a Trump supporter from the start who might say that's not good enough. >> Originally I supported Marco Rubio. After Marco was no longer a viable candidate, I looked at Ted Cruz. I like that Ted Cruz was a staunch conservative. He was not afraid to take on the entire letter -- entire Establishment. After Cruz lost the President Donald Trump, it was a clear choice. In May 2016 I wrote an op-ed and it said it is time for Republicans unify behind President Donald Trump. If you are anyone who believes in common sense and economic prosperity, the Republican values, there was only one choice. Either Donald Trump or anything else you do will support Hillary Clinton. I am the only person in the governors race that openly supported the president. I was happy to support the Republican nominee for president. I'm happy that anyone who runs for any office who actually puts their money where their mouth is. Since I've been elected in 2012, you can see that everything I said for the last six years is consistent. This is because I came to office as a simple businessman that believes the best days of California are ahead of us and we need a change of management. We need someone who is not afraid of taking on the establishment on either side to implement policies that are best for our state. This is what I think the president has done for our country. If you look at the results, we have federal tax reform, 22 regulations got for every new regulation proposed or implemented. Companies are coming back and hiring again. People are getting raises. You will be hard-pressed to find anyone who will say that the last year has been anything but a massive success for the United States. I am very proud of that . >> under California's top two primary systems, regardless of political party, the advance of the November general election, you are a tea party backer. He ran the party line with President Donald Trump stances and one of the blue states in the nation. It might be what you talk about an effective primary strategy. What makes you think you have a good shot at winning in November with the state that went to the one with Hillary Clinton, and in a year so what we saw with other states has been a turnout might likely favored Democrats more than Republicans. >> The bottom line is to not look at labels. It is to look at the simple idea that Kerala -- California cares about. The top issues for California are the illegal sanctuary states. An overwhelming amount of California's disagree with that. Taxes are too high in California. Sacramento continues to raise your taxes. We have soft on crime laws that contribute to violent crime spiking to 54% since 2014. These laws must be change. We are a state of three strikes. We have to go back to that. I am running against the guy Gavin Newsom who wants California to be a single-payer health state. Which means you go to the DMV to see a Doctor. The Veterans Administration could administer your healthcare better than the current system. Californians don't agree with us. I think the labels will be very clear. Gavin Newsom is the bay area progressive that is left of Bernie Sanders. And Travis Allen is for California and wants California to be the greatest state in the nation by cutting taxes, making the state safe, the best schools in the nation, best roads in a nation. Unleashing economic potential for the benefit of all Californians. We just need a change of leadership. That is why running for governor in 2018.
Republican Travis Allen is hoping — heck, he’s confident — that he can channel President Trump and "take back California." The Orange County Assemblyman is staking his campaign on his staunch support of the president’s immigration policies and opposition to the gas tax increase for road repairs passed by the state’s Democratic leaders last year.
