Trump Claims Intervention in California Politics Helped Advance Republican Candidate

Donald Trump visited a Mack Trucks facility in Pennsylvania on Tuesday, once again raising concerns about rigged elections during his speech. He specifically referenced the recent gubernatorial race in California, where Republican candidate Spencer Pratt was eliminated in the Los Angeles mayoral primary earlier this month.

“They really messed up with Pratt, didn’t they? He was winning, then suddenly dropped out after the vote count,” Trump remarked. “That’s election interference—pure and simple.” He elaborated on how Pratt’s withdrawal occurred as California tallied ballots post-Election Day.

Trump asserted that Steve Hilton, the Republican gubernatorial candidate, only secured a spot in the general election due to direct intervention. Hilton ultimately faced Democrat Xavier Becerra in the November runoff, with Becerra earning 28.1% of the vote compared to Hilton’s 24.7%. Democratic billionaire Tom Steyer finished third with 22.8%.

Trump claimed to have contacted a U.S. attorney hours before Hilton’s advancement, urging action to combat perceived election manipulation. Legal authorities confirm Bill Essayli serves as the Republican U.S. attorney for California’s Central District, which includes Los Angeles. No comment was immediately available from the office.

This alleged interference mirrors Trump’s prior controversies, including pressuring Georgia’s Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger in 2020 to “find” votes to overturn Biden’s win. He defended that call as “perfect,” despite subsequent indictments over election interference charges.

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