California gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton this week promised he would investigate Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) for fraud if he wins his Republican bid to become the Golden State’s next leader.
Hilton is one of three candidates viewed as the top contenders heading into Tuesday’s nonpartisan primary. Two Democrats, former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra and billionaire Tom Steyer, rival Hilton in a tight race to make it to the top-two finish, and seek to succeed Newsom in November’s general election.
Hilton told Fox News Digital Monday that if elected governor, his first executive order would create a “Taxpayer Fraud Strike Force” to probe suspected corruption and mismanagement in California’s government.
“This is Day 1 of the new administration. We’re going to clean house in California,” Hilton said. “Gavin Newsom will be top of our target list because for years Newsom was warned by the state auditor, by other state agencies, his own state agencies, that billions of dollars were being stolen, and he did nothing about it.”
“What we’re going to be investigating with this executive order, setting up a task force, a strike force to look at criminal prosecution, is whether there was criminal negligence on the part of Gavin Newsom and other state officials,” Hilton added, after previously warning Becerra and Newsom were implicated in their former aide’s corruption scandal. “And if there was, then they will be prosecuted.”
Polling paints a blurry picture of the gubernatorial race as voters cast their ballots on Tuesday. Hilton, an adviser to former British Prime Minister David Cameron who holds President Donald Trump’s endorsement, is among Republicans vying to flip the governor’s mansion red for the first time since 2011.
FORMER NEWSOM CHIEF OF STAFF PLEADS GUILTY ON CORRUPTION CHARGES
The most recent survey from McLaughlin & Associates has Hilton and Steyer tied at 25%, with Becerra trailing at 19%. The most recent Emerson poll has Becerra in the lead at 28%, with Steyer and Hilton at 23%. California’s system sends the top two vote-getters in the primary to the general election regardless of party.
“Good luck today to my friend Steve Hilton, who is running to become the next governor of California,” Vice President JD Vance wrote Tuesday in a post to X. “He’s a good guy and I encourage everyone to get out there and support him. California is such a beautiful state–it just needs better political leadership!”