California gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton replied on X to a post from Governor Gavin Newsom, stating that if elected, he would reverse the state’s prison closure program to keep dangerous criminals behind bars and reduce overcrowding in county jails. The exchange followed Newsom’s announcement of an executive order aimed at continuing existing public safety efforts into the next administration. Hilton’s response has drawn a mix of support and criticism online, with many users expressing hope that he follows through on the pledge while others question his electability.
In the post, Hilton replies to Governor Gavin Newsom’s announcement of an executive order on public safety. He states, “Thanks, but we got this. As the next governor, I will reverse your insane and destructive prison closure program so we can actually keep dangerous criminals behind bars and stop the overcrowding of county jails.”
Hilton’s message addresses ongoing debates over California’s prison system. Newsom has overseen the closure of four state prisons, with a fifth proposed, while California’s prison population has declined significantly, according to state data and independent reporting. Hilton has previously argued that the closures have contributed to overcrowding in county jails and early releases of inmates.
Newsom’s original post said he signed an executive order to continue progress against crime into the next administration through an interagency effort to strengthen public safety strategies. It is not clear from the exchange whether Newsom’s office has issued a formal response to Hilton’s reply.
Online Reactions to Steve Hilton’s Reply on California Prison Policy
Some users expressed support for the pledge. One wrote, “Please win @SteveHiltonx.”
Another said, “YES! Thank You.” A commenter noted, “He said it. He would reverse Newsom’s prison closing policy.”
Others added, “Thank you, Steve!” and “I voted for this!!”
Critics focused on Hilton’s background and electability. One replied, “You aren’t the new governor, take your loser brexit outta here.”
Another stated, “You will never get elected. Let’s say you were a decent human, with integrity and honesty, and you were a republican not tied to Trump, you might’ve had a chance.”
A user questioned, “Who’s this ‘we’, British man?” while another said, “Liar. Newsom admin has been prosecuting these crimes for many years now.”
Some responses raised other concerns about the approach. One commenter wrote, “I do not want to abolish prisons; I want to abolish for-profit prisons… VERY different thing.”
The exchange adds one more moment to the ongoing debate over public safety and prison capacity in California’s gubernatorial race. For now, the reply has drawn mixed responses online as voters weigh the candidates’ approaches ahead of the election.
