So, David Stafford Reade is trying to change the rules after the fact. The pattern is the same for him, rig the process with fake groups or groups full of puppets. Then, bully and intimidate other groups to run the good people off to take control of them. When that does not work, attempt to disrupt the meetings of the groups you don’t control… and even if you still lose the effort the fallback is try to confuse the leadership of the final group with say in the matter.

I’ve seen him do all of the above repeatedly over the years.

In this case, the CAGOP is controlled by the vassals of Kevin McCarthy.  McCarthy is supporting Scott Jones over Kiley. (That fact by itself is NOT a problem.) The problem is that it appears that the McCarthy crew are setting up to use their proxies on the CAGOP’s Board of Directors to backstop a process they lost control of.

Please recall that in 2021 the Tehama, Yuba and Glenn GOP got burnt to a crisp for violating state law and never holding an organizational meeting. The same CAGOP people did nothing. (Note: all three counties supported Jessica Patterson for Chair and the Yuba GOP has since been taken over by real activists)

Also recall that the Modoc GOP was stripped of their delegates to the CAGOP for similar violations while the previous three counties got a free pass. Note that Modoc County was supporting Steve Frank.

I am not expecting the CAGOP to be fair at all. I am expecting excuses and equivocation.

If the CAGOP buys in to David Stafford Reade’s garbage, Kiley will fall below the 80% threshold needed to get the endorsement. This would be a gigantic slap in the face of the grassroots activists within the entire party.

Please note: The State GOP has NO SAY WHATSOEVER over the endorsement procedures of a County Party. The issue is limited to if the county party violates election law in their operations, that is the only jurisdiction of the State Party. Sources indicate that David Stafford Reade is trying to claim that Inyo did not give five days notice for the meeting or some other manipulative lie he is famous for.

I will be tracking what the CAGOP does to inflict maximum damage on these people if they thumb their noses at the grassroots once again.

P.S. With Regard to the CA49 Issue with Bryan Maryott endorsement denial by Howard Hakes: I was told that Hakes made the motion to table and Mark Spannagel (on behalf of LaMalfa) and/or Guerra seconded. I was also told that Maryott did get a chance to speak, but inexplicably only Randy Berholtz, Frances Barrazza, Laurie Wallace and new Board Member Jason Clark opposed the tabling motion.

I called Lisa Bartett’s campaign people. They did not even know about what Howard Hakes did until I told them. What that man thought he was trying to accomplish for Lisa Bartlett is beyond me, other than enraging the base of the CAGOP against her. Lisa had no knowledge or participation in what Mr. Hakes did.

So – Jessica Patterson, Peter Kuo and others voted to screw over a deserving candidate for a CAGOP endorsement. What leadership. Do they correct their mistake or do they double down?