Steve Hilton’s Plans for California Gubernatorial Election
Steve Hilton has committed to investigating Gavin Newsom for alleged fraud if he wins the California governor’s race. This revelation came from the California Post, which reported that Hilton’s first executive action would focus on Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta, whom he accuses of being involved in a $425 billion fraud scheme.
“The potential loss of hundreds of billions in taxpayer money to fraud, waste, and mismanagement is one of the biggest public integrity failures in California’s history,” Hilton stated in his proposed executive order, as obtained by the newspaper.
Hilton intends to dedicate $100 million to create the California Taxpayer Fraud Strike Force. This initiative will scrutinize spending on homelessness, healthcare, and public assistance programs. The State Auditor’s previous findings will be a focal point of this effort.
The primary goal of the Strike Force will be to investigate whether actions—or lack thereof—by current or former state officials, particularly Newsom and Bonta, led to ongoing issues of fraud and waste, despite multiple warnings from regulators and auditors.
The executive order outlines that the investigation will assess whether the conduct of Newsom and Bonta during the past five years constituted “criminal negligence.”
Hilton’s announcement comes just ahead of the state’s primary election, where candidates are making final appeals to voters. Besides targeting fraud, Republican candidates are also discussing strategies to alleviate the cost of living.
Over the weekend, Hilton shared his “Cal-Affordable” plan with Billy Bush, claiming it would transform living costs in the state. “Your first $100,000 is tax-free, gas will cost $3 a gallon, electricity bills will be halved, and housing will be affordable,” Hilton noted during a candid conversation with Bush.
Currently, Californians face an electricity rate of about 33 cents per kilowatt-hour, which is nearly double the national average. Pro-Trump candidates attribute this spike to clean energy policies like Renewable Energy Credits and Renewable Portfolio Standards.
Hilton has proposed to abolish mandates and subsidies related to wind and solar energy, emphasizing a shift toward natural gas and nuclear power. He argues such changes could lead to significant reductions in electricity costs.
For achieving $3 gasoline, Hilton laid out a four-point strategy that includes scrapping environmental programs, halving the gas tax, and boosting domestic oil production.
Housing affordability also remains a top concern among voters. Hilton criticized Democratic policies for driving up construction costs and vowed to streamline processes and reduce fees to spur development. He aims to hasten approvals for starter housing projects.
Hilton asserted, “All these specific changes are real and we’ll work them into the budget,” aiming to ease financial burdens on residents. “We can directly help people cut their costs.”
According to a recent poll by California Post, Hilton is in a tie for first place with Democrat Tom Steyer at 25%, while Xavier Becerra trails behind at 19%. However, other polls indicate Becerra is leading, followed by Hilton and Steyer. The upcoming election will be pivotal in determining whether California remains under Democratic control or shifts to a Republican governor for the first time in over two decades.
