'Brazen and Unlawful': California GOP Tells Republican Carl DeMaio to Stop Deceiving Primary Voters

SAN DIEGO, Calif. - While California voters are making their decisions ahead of the June 2 primary election, the state Republican Party has sent a cease-and-desist letter to Assemblymember Carl DeMaio, one of its own, over mailers the party says is a “calculated deception."

California GOP general counsel Ashlee Titus sent the letter on May 14 and called out one mailer in particular in California Senate District 40. The irony? The mailer warns that Democrats are sending out fake Republican voter guides.

This is exactly what the GOP is accusing him and his organization, Reform California, of doing.

The letter states:

“This letter constitutes a demand that you, your slate mailer organization Reform California Voter Guide [...] and your website RepublicanVoterGuideCA.com immediately cease and desist from a coordinated, brazen, and unlawful campaign to deceive California voters into believing your privately controlled slate mailer is an official publication of the Republican Party. It is not.”

Titus pointed out several issues the party had with the campaign mail, including that it claims to be a “Republican Official Voter Guide.” It also says voters can go to RepublicanVoterGuideCA.com (a real website) “for all official endorsements” and the “Republican Central Committee Slate.”

“Reform California Voter Guide is not a Republican Party committee. It is not chartered by, affiliated with, or authorized by the California Republican Party, the Republican Party of San Diego County, or any other official Republican Party body,” Titus wrote.

Reform California defended its campaign materials on First Amendment grounds.

“Reform California not only has a constitutional right — but a duty — to distribute its voter guide to Republican voters so they know which candidates are the SELLOUTS and which candidates are the FIGHTERS in each race on the ballot,” the group's communications director, Dylan Martin, wrote in an email.

DeMaio has pushed the Reform California Voter Guide heavily. He has even sent out emails to supporters saying Republicans could be locked out of several general elections, which is why they need to chip in to send out his guide.

“Your conduct is not a mistake,” Titus wrote. “It is a calculated deception of California’s Republican voters, and it will not be tolerated.”

Along with spearheading the ballot-certified California Voter ID Initiative, DeMaio has also come out in support of a new effort to repeal California’s nonpartisan Top Two primary and wants to return to using closed primaries.

More Choice California Launches to Defend Nonpartisan Primary as Democratic and Republican Operatives Join Forces to Repeal It

A broad cross-partisan coalition of California reformers launched More Choice California on Monday to lead the opposition against a proposed repeal of the state’s nonpartisan Top Two primary system.

Independent Voter NewsShawn Griffiths

He claims the “Top Two system was imposed on California voters through deception. When it was put on the ballot, we were promised the system would give voters more choices and a bigger voice.”

The nonpartisan primary system is open to all voters. Every voter can choose from any candidate running, regardless of party.

That was the promise: Everyone gets a voice, voters can select any candidate they want, and independent voters won’t be locked out. This is exactly what the Top Two system does.

DeMaio wants to return to a system that would disenfranchise millions of California voters and lock out independents. It would also ensure that party insiders and aligned special interest groups have the most control over election outcomes.

Once again, the irony is not lost on anyone. On the same week DeMaio accused nonpartisan reformers in California of "deception," his own party brought the receipts against him.