Hilton Courts Oceanside Voters With Gas, Sewage and Homeless Pledges

Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton spoke to supporters in Oceanside on Tuesday, eight days before the Nov. 3 election.

Hilton spoke for roughly an hour and met with attendees afterward for photographs. He campaigned on lowering taxes and gas prices, reducing crime, and ending mass homelessness statewide by the close of 2027. Hilton criticized the record of Democratic opponent Xavier Becerra, saying a vote for Becerra would extend existing state policies. He asked the crowd whether they were tired of "this bloated bureaucratic nanny-state government bossing us around from morning till night."

The crowd's strongest response followed his comments on contamination in the Tijuana River. Hilton said, "We will stop the sewage from Mexico one way or another." Other Republicans appearing before Hilton took the stage included Jim Desmond and candidates running for state controller and lieutenant governor.

Attendees at the rally said they had already decided their votes. Jerry and Terrie St. John of Oceanside cast early ballots for Hilton. Terrie St. John said she supports his approach to street conditions, homelessness and state direction. Diana Parkman of Vista said she has followed Hilton for years and agrees with his positions, including expanded drilling to bring gas to $3 a gallon to fund services for homeless people.

Kari Barrera, a Democrat in attendance, said she is backing Hilton. Barreria said the party once united around helping those in need and that she no longer sees that focus.

Becerra's campaign responded to a request for comment with a statement from a spokesperson. The statement said former President Donald Trump is raising costs while Hilton approves of those increases, and cited Becerra's work on health care and prescription drug prices over the last decade. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3.