Oceanside Rally: Hilton Pledges Sewage Fix and $3 Gas

The air in Oceanside was thick with anticipation as Steve Hilton took the stage for his final major campaign stop before the November 3 election. With eight days remaining until midterms, the Republican candidate for California governor addressed a large, energetic crowd to deliver his closing arguments. The event marked the culmination of his push to secure the state's executive seat, a contest he framed as a choice between a new direction and a continuation of current policies.

Hilton spent approximately one hour on stage, pausing frequently to pose for photographs with supporters. His platform centered on lowering taxes and gas prices, as well as cracking down on crime. A central pillar of his proposal is ending mass homelessness in California by the end of 2027. He characterized his opponent, Xavier Becerra, as a representative of the status quo, urging voters to question the size of the state government.

"Have you had enough of this bloated bureaucratic nanny-state government bossing us around from morning till night," Hilton told the audience. The crowd responded with the strongest cheers when Hilton addressed the Tijuana River sewage crisis, a long-standing environmental and public health issue for the region. He committed to halting the flow of untreated wastewater from Mexico, stating, "We will stop the sewage from Mexico one way or another."

Supporters in the audience expressed strong loyalty to the candidate. Jerry and Terrie St. John, a couple from Oceanside, said they had already cast early votes for Hilton. Terrie St. John cited his focus on street cleanliness and homelessness as key factors. "I like the fact that he wants to clean up the streets and help the homeless and start to have the state get back to where it should be," she said. Diana Parkman, a voter from Vista, highlighted the economic promises, specifically the goal of bringing gas prices down to three dollars a gallon and resuming oil drilling.

The rally also attracted some crossover support. Kari Barrera, a Democrat in the crowd, said she was breaking party lines to vote for Hilton. She felt the Democratic Party had lost its focus on helping the underdog. "We used to be a party united in one cause which was helping the underdog, and I'm not seeing that anymore," Barrera said. Other Republican candidates, including state controller candidate Jim Desmond, also spoke to the group before Hilton took the stage.

Xavier Becerra’s campaign responded to the event through a spokesperson. The statement argued that Becerra had spent the last decade making health care and prescription drugs more affordable. It also criticized Hilton for supporting policies that drive up costs. "Donald Trump keeps driving up costs, and his lapdog Steve Hilton keeps applauding," the spokesperson said. "Xavier Becerra spent the last decade making health care and prescription drugs more affordable. Becerra is ready to lead California forward."

The final major campaign event is scheduled for Tuesday, November 3, when voters will head to the polls to select the next governor of California.