GOP Candidate Questions Newsom's Rail Project Amid 2028 Presidential Buzz

Republican California gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton challenged Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear's assertion of Democratic governors' accomplishments during a recent appearance on HBO's "Real Time with Bill Maher." Hilton specifically pointed to California Gov. Gavin Newsom's struggling high-speed rail project as Beshear touted the track record of Democratic leaders potentially running in 2028.

Beshear had argued that Democratic governors possess tangible achievements that could differentiate them from President Donald Trump, stating, "What Democratic governors have are receipts. You can look at, have you built the housing?" Hilton countered by asking, "Have you built the high-speed rail?"

Host Bill Maher acknowledged Hilton's critique, suggesting the project's troubled history could be a potent issue for Republicans. "You're going to have a field day with that. No, you're right," Maher said.

Matt Ciepielowski, Hilton's campaign manager, criticized California's continued investment in the project. "If Andy Beshear thinks California’s high-speed rail is something to brag about, he should try buying a ticket," Ciepielowski stated. "Billions spent, years behind schedule, and Californians still can’t ride it. Gavin Newsom’s answer is to keep pouring money into it." Ciepielowski added that Hilton would end state funding for the project if elected governor, asserting that taxpayers should not fund "Sacramento’s failures."

California state Sen. Tony Strickland, R-Huntington Beach, also criticized Newsom's management of the project. "The high-speed fail should have been defunded when Newsom took office in 2019," Strickland said. "Instead, he doubled down on a project that will never be built as originally proposed to Californians." He also pointed to recent findings regarding taxpayer-funded travel expenses by project consultants as "another slap in the face to California families struggling to pay for essentials."

California's high-speed rail system, approved by voters with nearly $10 billion in bonds in 2008, has faced extensive delays and cost overruns. An April estimate projected the full project cost at approximately $126 billion, a significant increase from the original $33 billion estimate. As of that report, no high-speed track had been laid. The initial segment from Merced to Bakersfield is now estimated to cost $35.7 billion, with service potentially starting in 2033, according to the California High-Speed Rail Authority. Approximately $15.7 billion had been spent on the project as of February.

Concerns about financial oversight intensified following an inspector general's investigation that identified about $81,000 in consultant travel expenses potentially violating state regulations and an additional $543,000 in impermissible charges. These questionable expenses included premium transportation, gym visits, a nightclub, and an escape room.

The California High-Speed Rail Authority has indicated that it is implementing corrective actions, including enhanced oversight and employee training, and is seeking to recover improper payments. The authority also maintains that construction is progressing, reporting in October the completion of 66 major structures and nearly 90 miles of guideway in the Central Valley.