Hilton attacks Newsom's high-speed rail project in California governor race

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 27 Oct, 22:32 · Archive

Republican Steve Hilton criticised California's high-speed rail project during his campaign for governor, citing billions spent with no passenger service yet available.

Steve Hilton, the Republican candidate for California governor, has criticised Gov. Gavin Newsom's high-speed rail project as an example of state waste. Speaking on HBO's "Real Time with Bill Maher", Hilton challenged Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear's claim that Democratic governors could point to tangible accomplishments, questioning whether California had actually built the high-speed rail. Host Bill Maher acknowledged that Hilton could use the project's troubled history against Newsom.

Hilton's campaign manager said the project had cost billions and was years behind schedule, with Californians unable to use it. "If Andy Beshear thinks California's high-speed rail is something to brag about, he should try buying a ticket," the manager stated. Hilton pledged to end state funding for the project on his first day as governor, arguing that residents struggling with their own expenses should not have to pay for the state's failures.

Hilton has made government waste a central theme of his campaign. He held a press conference in Newport Beach criticising the state's "Broadband-for-All" programme, claiming it had spent $3.25 billion in federal Covid relief funds but connected only one community education centre in five years. The New York Post reported that Hilton trails in recent polls, with his opponent Xavier Becerra holding a 15.7-point lead at 55 per cent to 39.3 per cent.

How it is being reported

• Steve Hilton, Xavier Becerra make last-minute pitches to California voters as gov contest enters home stretchCalifornia governor candidates Steve Hilton and Xavier Becerra criscrossed the state Tuesday, making their last-minute pleas to voters with the contest to replace Gov. Gavin Newsom just days away. Hilton, who trails in recent polls, joined supporters in Newport Beach Tuesday for a press conference calling out waste in California’s “Broadband-for-All” program, which was launched...New York Post · 27 Oct, 22:21
• Steve Hilton hits Dem governor's 2028 pitch by calling out Newsom's rail recordCalifornia Gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton seized on Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear's boast about Democrat successes to criticize the struggling rail project under Gov. Gavin Newsom.Fox News · 25 Oct, 23:13

In this story: Steve Hilton · Gavin Newsom · Andy Beshear · Xavier Becerra · California

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