California's unfinished high-speed rail sparks TV clash between Beshear and Hilton

Republican California gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton challenged Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear over California's unfinished high-speed rail project after Beshear touted Democratic governors' accomplishments on HBO's 'Real Time with Bill Maher'. The exchange took place on Friday's programme.

Beshear, arguing that a Democratic governor should lead the party's 2028 presidential ticket, said Democratic governors have 'receipts' and asked whether housing had been built. Hilton replied, 'Have you built the high-speed rail?'

Host Bill Maher acknowledged Hilton's point, suggesting the Republican 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.

Maher had raised California Governor Gavin Newsom as a potential 2028 contender on the programme, although Newsom has not formally announced a presidential campaign.

Matt Ciepielowski, Hilton's campaign manager, said in a statement to Fox News Digital that billions had been spent, the project was years behind schedule and Californians still could not ride it. He said Hilton would end state funding for the project on day one if elected.

California state Senator Tony Strickland, vice chair of the Senate Transportation Committee, also criticised Newsom's handling of the project, pointing to findings about taxpayer-funded travel expenses submitted by project consultants. He said the project should have been defunded when Newsom took office in 2019.

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 approximately $126 billion, 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. According to the authority's financial records, approximately $15.7 billion had been spent through February.

The project's financial oversight also came under scrutiny following a September investigation by California's independent high-speed rail inspector general. Investigators identified approximately $81,000 in consultant travel expenses that appeared to violate state regulations and another $543,000 that appeared impermissible under contract terms, with some overlap between the findings. Questionable charges included premium transportation and trips to gyms, a nightclub and an escape room.

The rail authority outlined corrective actions, including additional oversight, employee training and efforts to recover payments determined to be improper.

Despite the criticism, the authority has maintained that construction is advancing. In an October update, officials reported completing 66 major structures and nearly 90 miles of guideway in the Central Valley. Fox News Digital reached out to Newsom and the rail authority for comment but did not immediately receive a response.