Steve Hilton rallies at 'symbol of 16 years of Democrat failure' in closing days of California race
Republican California gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton rallied Sunday in Pacific Palisades, a Los Angeles neighborhood devastated by the January 2025 wildfires, blaming Democratic leadership for the destruction and slow recovery...
By Fox News · Fox News
Republican California gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton rallied Sunday in Pacific Palisades, a Los Angeles neighborhood devastated by the January 2025 wildfires, blaming Democratic leadership for the destruction and slow recovery just days before voters will choose the state's next governor. "I’m so sorry. And it’s so sad about what happened because it could and should have been avoided," Hilton told supporters and residents. "This place is a symbol of 16 years of Democrat failure." The Palisades Fire burned more than 23,000 acres and destroyed roughly 6,800 structures, many of them homes. Fueled by powerful winds and dry conditions, the blaze displaced tens of thousands of residents and devastated large sections of the community, leaving a massive rebuilding effort in its wake. JURY DEADLOCKS IN FEDERAL TRIAL OF MAN ACCUSED OF STARTING DEADLY PALISADES FIRE IN LOS ANGELES Hilton argued that the disaster and its aftermath reflected broader failures of California's Democratic leadership, from wildfire prevention and emergency response to rebuilding efforts. "These are not random, disconnected events," Hilton said. "These are what has gone wrong in the state of California over 16 years of one-party rule." Democrats have held California's governorship for the past 16 years. Hilton faces Democrat Xavier Becerra , a former state attorney general and Health and Human Services secretary under President Joe Biden, in Tuesday's election to succeed term-limited Gov. Gavin Newsom. Hilton, a former Fox News commentator who previously advised British Prime Minister David Cameron, has made criticism of the state's Democratic leadership a central theme of his campaign. STEVE HILTON LAUNCHES AD MOCKING XAVIER BECERRA'S '36 YEARS' AS A CAREER POLITICIAN IN CALIFORNIA GOV RACE At the rally, he accused state and local officials of failing to adequately prepare for the fires and help residents rebuild, blaming what he called a combination of…