California Ballot Measure Faces Criticism as “Disgusting Power Grab” by Governor

By Solange Reyner | Monday, 03 November 2025 05:15 PM EST
Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton accused California Gov. Gavin Newsom of orchestrating a “disgusting, corrupt power grab” through Proposition 50, linking the ballot measure to the governor’s presidential ambitions. Speaking on Newsmax’s “American Agenda,” Hilton urged conservatives to resist what he called an abuse of power and wasteful use of taxpayer funds.

Hilton argued that if Proposition 50 passes, voters in three Northern California counties—regions that strongly supported President Donald Trump in recent elections—would be merged with liberal coastal communities. This shift, he claimed, would dilute rural influence, making it nearly impossible for Republican candidates to win.

The proposal has become a focal point of Hilton’s statewide campaign alongside strategist Karl Rove, who have been rallying opposition through a “Vote No on Prop 50” bus tour. Hilton emphasized that the measure is not merely a costly initiative but a calculated move to elevate Newsom’s national profile. He warned that defeating it would inflict a “massive humiliation” on the governor and derail his White House aspirations.

“If we defeat it, Gavin Newsom’s hopes of being president totally collapse,” Hilton stated. He called on voters nationwide to pressure California residents to reject the measure, framing the fight as a broader battle against political elites manipulating democracy for personal gain.

With polls set to close Tuesday evening, Hilton described the vote as “the last stand” against what he called a “deeply corrupt system.” He reiterated that the campaign’s success hinges on public action to “finish the job.”