Lately, he’s been leading an effort to repeal an unpopular gas tax increase.

We caught up with Mr. Allen by phone. Some excerpts:

Q. How have things gone astray under Gov. Brown?

A. Jerry Brown is a four-term governor who has absolutely no legacy. He’s built nothing of note in the state and is most famous for his bullet train to nowhere, bursting dams and crumbling infrastructure.

What can be done about rising housing costs?

California needs to increase its housing supply. We have all the tools. We have all the natural resources we could possibly need, the technological expertise and the country’s best work force. We just need a governor that can cut through California’s massive taxes and burdensome regulatory climate.

Has your support for President Trump wavered at all?

Absolutely not.

Does a Trump supporter stand a chance at winning governor?

Absolutely. The economy in 2018 is likely to be dramatically better. And the entire country is reaping the benefits of real economic reforms. Republicans have won every major federal contest since Trump’s election. And 2018 will bring the biggest prize of all, the California governor’s seat.