Steve Hilton hits Dem governor's 2028 pitch by calling out Newsom's rail record

Republican California gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton challenged Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear's argument that a Democratic governor should lead the party's 2028 presidential ticket Friday on HBO's "Real Time with Bill Maher," pointing to California Gov. unfinished high-speed rail project as Beshear touted Democratic governors' accomplishments.

Beshear, discussing potential Democratic presidential contenders, argued that governors could point to tangible accomplishments that would distinguish them from President Donald Trump.

"What Democratic governors have are receipts," he said. "You can look at, have you built the housing?"

"Have you built the high-speed rail?" Hilton asked. 

BILL MAHER CLASHES WITH NEWSOM OVER CALIFORNIA LEADERS, SAYS OTHER SIDE WILL ASK, HAVE YOU SEEN THE STATS?'

The exchange came after Maher raised Newsom as a potential 2028 contender, although the governor has not formally announced a presidential campaign.

Maher acknowledged Hilton's point, suggesting the Republican candidate could use the project's troubled history against Newsom.

"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 in a statement to .

"If Andy Beshear thinks Californias high-speed rail is something to brag about, he should try buying a ticket. Billions spent, years behind schedule, and Californians still cant ride it. Gavin Newsoms answer is to keep pouring money into it."

Ciepielowski also said Hilton would end state funding for the project if elected governor.

"Steve Hilton will end state funding on day one," he said. "Californians are struggling to pay their own bills. They shouldnt have to keep paying for Sacramentos failures, too."

TRUMP BACKS HILTON AHEAD OF CALIFORNIA GOP VOTE, TESTING BIANCOS GRIP ON PARTY ENDORSEMENT

California state Sen. Tony Strickland, R-Huntington Beach, vice chair of the Senate Transportation Committee, also criticized Newsom's handling of the project, pointing to findings about taxpayer-funded travel expenses submitted by project consultants.

"The high-speed fail should have been defunded when Newsom took office in 2019," he said. "Instead, he doubled down on a project that will never be built as originally proposed to Californians. The latest scandal involving project consultants' misuse of public funds to pay for luxury travel under Newsoms watch is yet another slap in the face to California families struggling to pay for essentials like gas, food, and rent."

"These are taxpayer dollars, yet project consultants treat them like their personal ATM. This project will go down as one of the most wasteful government projects in California history," he continued.

LIZ PEEK: CALIFORNIA VOTERS FED UP WITH DEMOCRATS MAY TURN TO STEVE HILTON FOR CHANGE

California's high-speed rail system has faced years of delays and escalating costs since voters approved nearly $10 billion in bonds in 2008. An April estimate placed the cost of the full project at , compared with an original estimate of $33 billion. No high-speed track had been laid as of that report.

The California High-Speed Rail Authority said in its 2026 business plan that completing the initial Merced-to-Bakersfield segment would cost an estimated $35.7 billion, with passenger service targeted for 2033. Acco