California has been run by Democrats at every level of government for 16 years.
Posted by Real Time with Bill Maher, Checked
- Sources
- 1 contradict2 support2 context
- Said
- 1 time·
- Confidence
- 55%
Real Time with Bill MaherOct 24, 2026
Sources strongly support that Democrats have held California's governorship and every other statewide office, plus both legislative houses, for about 16 years (AP, LA Times, Hoover, Newsweek). The 'every level of government' and 'completely' parts are only partly supported: Hoover notes Republicans still hold four of 52 U.S.
A detail. The sources confirm the gist; the verdict faults a detail such as a date, number or wording.
A guest makes this claim. Listeners heard it, so it counts against the post, and on the guest's own record.
What was said
… We got, I mean, just the devastation on our streets in California. I've been out a lot here in Los Angeles, Skid Row, MacArthur Park, everywhere you go in California, desperate people living on the streets, drug addiction, untreated mental health illness. This state's been run by Democrats for 16 years, completely, every level of government. I don't think it's because of anything to do with the faith or lack of it of Democrat politicians. I think it's because they got the wrong ideas and are not competent at running things. I don't think it's got anything to do with faith. …
Real Time with Bill Maher · · from the transcriptPost →What we found
Contradicts. Hoover notes that only four of California's 52 congressional seats are held by Republicans, so the federal delegation is not entirely Democratic, which cuts against 'completely, every level of government' if federal office is included.[2]
Supports. AP reports Democrats have held California's governor's seat for the last 16 years, and the LA Times says Democrats have held the governor's desk, every other statewide office and both legislative houses for nearly 16 years.[1][3]
Supports. Hoover Institution describes California as 'governed top to bottom by Democrats,' with Democrats in control of every statewide constitutional office and supermajorities in both chambers of the Legislature.[2]
Context. No source independently documents Democratic control of all local governments (counties and cities); the claims of Democratic control of the big counties and cities come only from Steve Hilton's own statements, which are not evidence.[4]
Context. Newsweek's 2025 coverage says Democrats hold every statewide office, command supermajorities in both legislative chambers, and control most of the state's 52 congressional seats.[5]
Sources
5 sources: 1 fact-checker, 4 not rated
- 1What to expect in California on Election Dayapnews.com · fact-checker · cited for: supports
- 2Who Lost California?hoover.org · not rated · cited for: contradicts, supports
- 3A Republican governor would bring productive tension to ...latimes.com · not rated · cited for: supports
- 4Steve Hilton: After 16 Years Of Total Democratic Rule, California Ranks Last In Basically Everythingrealclearpolitics.com · not rated · cited for: context
- 5New California: The Group Pushing for a Breakaway Statenewsweek.com · not rated · cited for: context
Where this claim was made
Said in 1 published post
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