{"id":14523,"date":"2026-06-12T14:31:52","date_gmt":"2026-06-12T14:31:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/siliconvalleymovingpost.com\/?p=14523"},"modified":"2026-06-12T14:31:52","modified_gmt":"2026-06-12T14:31:52","slug":"california-lawmakers-introduce-bill-to-prevent-hate-speech-in-official-candidate-statements","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/siliconvalleymovingpost.com\/?p=14523","title":{"rendered":"California lawmakers introduce bill to prevent hate speech in official candidate statements"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

State lawmakers have introduced a bill intended to prevent hate speech from appearing in a candidate\u2019s statement in official state- or county-issued voter information guides.<\/p>\n

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This effort is in response to the recent outcry after a candidate for California governor provided a statement that many considered antisemitic, which was then published in the state\u2019s voter guide.<\/p>\n

Don Grundmann, a no-party preference candidate, had submitted a statement espousing conspiracy theories that linked Israel to last year\u2019s murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk and to the Sept. 11, terrorist attack.<\/p>\n

A disclaimer accompanying Grundmann\u2019s statement \u2014 which was published online and in print, then mailed out to approximately 23 million voters statewide \u2014 noted that views \u201cexpressed by the candidates are their own and do not represent the views and opinions of the Secretary of State\u2019s office.\u201d His statement was the only one with the disclaimer.<\/p>\n

In addition, a statement from Secretary of State Shirley Weber\u2019s press team last month said California law \u201conly allows the state to reject candidate statements if they reference a candidate\u2019s opponent.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Secretary and her staff continue to work closely with the Legislature to explore possible solutions, so our systems reflect the inclusive values of our state,\u201d the statement said.<\/p>\n

Fast forward to this week, when Assemblymembers Gail Pellerin, D-Santa Cruz, and Marc Berman, D-Menlo Park, introduced Assembly Bill 1853, which would limit a candidate\u2019s statement to information about their education, professional experience, public service, community involvement or qualifications for the office they\u2019re seeking.<\/p>\n

Moreover, it would prohibit a candidate from referencing other candidates; attacking, accusing or characterizing individuals or groups; sharing links to external content such as a website address; or including content that\u2019s \u201cobscene or profane, or that incites hatred, violence, or discrimination.\u201d The candidate also would be prohibited from making \u201cdemonstrably false statements or materially misleading claims.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n<\/div>\n

The bill would give the secretary of state and county elections officials authority to omit or reject content that\u2019s not compliant and give any registered voter the right to seek judicial enforcement of these requirements.<\/p>\n

\u201cCalifornians deserve to trust that materials distributed by their state are factual, accurate and free from hate speech,\u201d Pellerin, who chairs the Assembly Elections Committee, said in a statement. \u201cOfficial voter guides should inform voters \u2014 not serve as a platform for antisemitism or other targeted attacks.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Berman echoed similar sentiments.<\/p>\n

\u201cCalifornia must not allow itself to be used as a tool to spread vile rhetoric by hateful people,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\n<\/div>\n

Grundmann, in an interview on Thursday, June 11, said he doesn\u2019t consider himself antisemitic but is \u201cjust alerting people to the reality.\u201d<\/p>\n

He said AB 1853 amounts to censorship and that if it becomes law, he anticipates there would be a legal challenge over free speech rights.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m actually very pleased that the enemies of what I said are trying to attack free speech,\u201d he said. \u201cIt has the potential of being a Supreme Court case.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pellerin, in response, said she\u2019s working with the offices of the state attorney general and secretary of state, as well as other legal experts, as the bill proceeds through the legislative process \u201cto make sure we get it right.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThere is a difference between a candidate\u2019s right to speak and the state\u2019s obligation to print it,\u201d Pellerin said in an emailed statement. \u201cOfficial voter guides are taxpayer-funded publications, and Californians deserve to trust that their contents are factual and relevant.\u201d<\/p>\n

AB 1853, considered a priority bill for the California Legislative Jewish Caucus, is scheduled to be heard by the Senate Elections and Constitutional Amendments Committee on Tuesday.<\/p>\n

Should it become law, the bill would take effect immediately and apply to the general election in November.<\/p>\n

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Staff writer Kaitlyn Schallhorn contributed to this report.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The bill would apply to official state- or county-issued voter information guides, and is in response to outcry over a gubernatorial candidate’s voter guide statement during the primary.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":14522,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[43,2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-14523","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-based-on-facts-either-observed-and-verified-directly-by-the-reporter-or-reported-and-verified-from-knowledgeable-sources","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\nCalifornia lawmakers introduce bill to prevent hate speech in official candidate statements - Silicon Valley Moving Post<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/siliconvalleymovingpost.com\/?p=14523\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"California lawmakers introduce bill to prevent hate speech in official candidate statements - 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