Becerra and Hilton diverge on fuel, rail policy in final stretch

Former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra and former Fox News host Steve Hilton are presenting starkly different approaches to energy costs as they seek to replace Governor Gavin Newsom. Both men acknowledge that California residents pay the highest average fuel prices in the nation, a cost they attribute to different political causes. The candidates differ on whether to accelerate the shift to electric vehicles or unwind current climate regulations, and on whether to complete or cancel the state's high-speed rail system.

According to the American Automobile Association, the average price of gasoline in California stands at $6.01 per gallon. This figure exceeds the national average of $4.28 per gallon. AAA projects that the current month will mark the most expensive period for fuel prices on record. Becerra blames the Iran war led by President Donald Trump for adding $2 per gallon to California prices. Hilton contends that policies championed by Newsom and Democratic lawmakers are the primary driver of high costs.

Hilton has pledged to bring pump prices down to $3 per gallon by repealing environmental regulations and issuing more drilling permits. He cited Kern County as a source for domestic oil that could be transported via pipeline to local refineries. In an August town hall in Modesto, Hilton described the current practice of shipping oil globally as inefficient. Becerra supports keeping California refineries open to process petroleum locally. He clarified his position on oil companies after defending Chevron, which donated $500,000 to a committee supporting his campaign, noting that maintaining refinery capacity helps prevent even higher prices.

The next governor will determine the fate of the state's plan to ban the sale of new gas-powered cars by 2035. Becerra supports the long-term goal of carbon neutrality but questions whether families can afford the transition. He told CalMatters that the goal must match the financial reality of households and indicated he is open to revising or delaying targets. Hilton wants to end the state's climate goals, arguing they drive up energy costs. He said he wants to reduce emissions in a way that does not hurt working people or small businesses, favoring domestic oil production and vegetation management over regulatory mandates.

Hilton also plans to overhaul state agencies, including abolishing the Department of Motor Vehicles and reducing registration fees to $73. He criticized current fuel efficiency standards for car tires as part of a broader push to merge regulators. Becerra is concerned about the high-speed rail project's cost overruns and delays, though he supports the concept. A recent audit found the authority approved hundreds of thousands of dollars in travel expenses that should not have been allowed. Becerra said he would clean up the agency to ensure the project is completed without overspending.

Hilton stated he would cancel all high-speed rail funding, estimating annual savings of more than $3.7 billion. Becerra argued that California, as the fourth-largest economy, can complete the project if managed properly. He said the current approach involves misspending and that a new administration would handle the work differently. Both candidates continue to campaign in the state's final days before the general election, with voters weighing their distinct platforms on energy and infrastructure.