An antisemitic conspiracy theorist running for California governor had his vile statements enshrined in a voting guide sent to millions of homes across the state as Jewish groups blasted his inclusion in the official pamphlet.
Don J. Grundmann — who went viral for comments he made during a 2019 Modesto city council meeting calling himself a “totally peaceful racist” — has pushed conspiracies saying that Israel killed conservative activist Charlie Kirk and perpetrated the 9/11 attacks.
“Kirk murdered by shaped-charge bomb Israel used. Government knows,” he wrote in the guide, leading to protests aimed at at California Secretary of State, Shirley Weber.
The 64-page booklet includes the name, photo, party preference, and personal statement of every candidate who will appear on ballot. It notes that the “views and opinions expressed by the candidates are their own and do not represent the views and opinions of the Secretary of State’s office.”
Grundmann also called Israel America’s “greatest enemy,” claiming the country would set off a “suitcase nuke” in the US as part of a “false flag” operation designed to blame Russia or Iran to “permanently end our nation.”
He further stated that Israel will “enslave” non-natives.
“We are ‘goyim’ (less than human/animals/cattle) that they will enslave,” Grundmann’s statement says. “Talmud — their Bible — says Christ boiling in in [sic] Israel allowed/planned/promoted Hamas attack (they murdered their own people) to justify genocide and steal billion$.”
“Christian Zionism = soul poison. Talmudic ‘Judeo-Christian values’ don’t exist,” the statement said.
Several Jewish or Israel-related groups, including the Jewish Federation of Orange County, the Anti-Defamation League of Orange County and Long Beach, and the Israeli American Council, sent a letter to Secretary of State Weber this week protesting Grundmann’s inclusion in the guide.
“Millions of California voters received an official state publication containing content that should have been disqualified under the State’s own rules,” the letter stated. “Because the Voter Information Guide is a government-issued document, its contents carry a degree of legitimacy and amplification that would not otherwise attach to such material in other forums.”
“By including a statement containing antisemitic tropes and conspiracy theories in an official voter guide, the State has effectively provided a government platform for rhetoric that fuels division and undermines the safety and dignity of Jewish communities,” the letter added.
The Secretary of State’s guidelines to candidates include a clause that they must submit a statement that is “true and correct.” It adds that an explanation of how the statement was reviewed and approved is required.
Most candidates’s statements are featured in small print at the bottom of the page, while Grundmann’s shows more prominently and in bold.
Since Jewish groups protested Grundmann’s statement, the webpage showing the guidelines has been taken down, according to the Times of Israel.
Ilana Meirovitch, the head of the California-based Jewish Community Action Network (JCAN) advocacy group, criticized Weber to the outlet. Weber was appointed as California’s 30th Secretary of State in 2020.
“There is a voter guide, there’s going to be another one for November. Can we trust you that you’re going to do your job next time?” Meirovitch told the Times of Israel. “The issue is, when something like this is printed on government paper by the state, it smacks like you kind of, sort of approved it.”
“Let him spew his hate on social media, on the street corner, but not on government paper,” she added.
Grundmann first made headlines when addressing a meeting of the Modesto City Council over a “straight pride” event he wanted to host in the city.
“We haven’t done anything,” he said in the face of opposition. “We’re a totally peaceful, racist group.”
The California Post contacted Grundmann and Shirley’s office for comment.
California’s primary elections are set to be held in June of this year, with the general election in November.
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