California’s gubernatorial candidates have put forward sharply contrasting proposals on issues ranging from gasoline prices and electric vehicles to high-speed rail and regulatory policy, framing a debate over the state’s economic and environmental future ahead of the election.
Gasoline in California remains the most expensive in the nation, with an average price of $6.01 per gallon, compared to a national average of $4.28, according to AAA. Both candidates attribute these high costs to the opposing political party but for different reasons. Rob Bonta, the Democratic candidate, points to international tensions—specifically, what he calls former President Trump’s "war in Iran"—as having driven prices up by about $2 per gallon. In contrast, Republican candidate Brian Hilton blames policies enacted under Governor Gavin Newsom and Democratic lawmakers for inflating prices, arguing that state regulations restrict production and contribute to the high costs.
Hilton has made lowering gas prices to $3 per gallon a central goal of his campaign. He proposes repealing environmental regulations and increasing oil drilling permits within California, particularly in Kern County, to boost local production and reduce reliance on foreign oil transported via tankers. “We could be producing most of it here in California…and sending it to the refineries in a nice clean pipeline,” he said during a recent town hall in Modesto.
Bonta has offered fewer specifics on reducing gas prices, but he has emphasized the importance of maintaining California’s oil refineries amid closures in recent years. He faced criticism from fellow Democrats for defending Chevron following a substantial campaign donation from the company but clarified his stance centers on keeping refineries operational to prevent even higher prices. Additionally, Bonta supports implementing a mileage-based fee for drivers to replace declining gas tax revenues as electric vehicle (EV) usage grows. This fee, he said, would ensure that all drivers contribute to road maintenance.
On the subject of electric vehicles and emission reduction, the candidates diverge significantly. Bonta supports continuing Governor Newsom’s initiative to ban the sale of new gas-powered cars by 2035, aligning with California’s broader carbon neutrality goals, though he cautions that affordability for families must be taken into account and remains open to revising the timeline. Hilton, by contrast, seeks to scrap the state’s climate goals, which he attributes to higher energy and living costs. He advocates for increasing domestic oil production and enhancing vegetation management to combat wildfires as alternatives to what he calls “heavy-handed” climate regulations, including recently introduced fuel efficiency standards for car tires, which he opposes.
Regarding high-speed rail, Hilton has pledged to cancel all funding for the project, estimating savings of more than $3.7 billion annually. Bonta supports the rail initiative but voices concern over recent delays, cost overruns, and management issues. He proposes restructuring the authority overseeing the project to prevent future overspending, citing a recent audit that found improper approval of travel expenses. The rail authority’s chief executive, Ian Choudri, resigned last Wednesday amid growing scrutiny.
Hilton has also pledged to abolish the California Department of Motor Vehicles and reduce vehicle registration fees to $73, framing these moves as efforts to reduce bureaucratic costs on residents.
The competing visions of Bonta and Hilton reflect broader tensions in California politics over balancing environmental commitments, economic pressures, and infrastructure development as voters prepare to choose the state’s next leader.