SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- California Republicans kicked off a weekend convention at the Santa Clara Hyatt Regency Friday night, including the top candidates for major offices hoping to win over the GOP's conservative base.

Friday night's featured speaker was gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman.

Whitman blamed politicians in Sacramento for some of the highest taxes in the country and said she would reduce the state workforce by 40,000 people.

"The next governor must make tough decisions. And I am the only candidate in the race who has the ability and experience to stand up to the public employee unions and lay down the law," said Whitman.

The former CEO of Ebay reportedly is worth $1.4 billion and said she will release 25 years of her tax records.

When asked, Whitman's challenger, state Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner, said he may do the same.

Poizner is scheduled to speak at the convention Saturday, Friday night he held a news conference.

He said he has a plan for California based on conservative principles: Cutting taxes, and stopping government funding of abortion and aid to illegal immigrants.

"These are my principles, my plan. They're bold, they're comprehensive. They're a game-player approach to this broken state. And over the course of the campaign, these differences between Meg Whitman and me will come out," Poizner said.

Campaign workers for Poizner and Whitman worked the crowds.

Both candidates from the relatively liberal Silicon Valley and they spoke to a more conservative element at the convention, both economically and socially.

San Diego delegate Sylvia Sullivan said, "It's also a concern when they're not really truly pro-life. And that's one of the principles, the foundational principles I look for in a candidate."

"I'm going to vote for one of them regardless if they are as conservative as I would like them or not. So, they are our Republican candidates." said Yuba City delegate Karna Boyer.

Tom del Beccaro, Vice Chairman of the California Republican Party said, "They have solutions for California. And that should be good enough for California as a whole. This shouldn't be about labels, this should be about practical solutions for the California voters. So we're excited about what they bring to the table as opposed to Governor Moonbeam."

The wrath of the crowd was focused on Democratic candidate Jerry Brown. They say he's the man to beat no matter who wins the Republican nomination.

Saturday, Poizner will be joined on the podium by Tom Campbell, U.S. senate candidate and supporter.