Assembly candidate Jim Polsgrove, right, is suing the Fresno County Republican Party and its leadership, including Chairwoman Elizabeth Kolstad, left.
The civil war in the Fresno County Republican Party is now headed to civil court.
After years of squabbling, a candidate for state Assembly District 31 is suing his own local party, alleging he should be a part of the group’s Central Committee but has been denied by the current chair — and others.
Jim Polsgrove has alleged that Elizabeth Kolstad is violating not only party rules but also the state Election Code by refusing to seat him and seven others. Polsgrove, a Fresno Republican running against Fresno City Councilwoman Annalisa Perea, D-Fresno, for the Assembly seat said that Republican winners of the June 2 primary are supposed to automatically have a seat at the GOP table.
Polsgrove is seeking a temporary restraining order — with a hearing set for Oct. 7 in front of Fresno County Superior Court Judge Robert Whalen.
“I am aware of the litigation. The claims have no merit, and our attorneys will formally make a response on our behalf,” Kolstad told The Fresno Bee.
Polsgrove filed the writ of mandate on Sept. 10. He also names members of the Fresno County GOP leadership as defendants — Lance Jackson, Alex Reyna, Susan Kraemer, Martha Kolstad and Kulwant Sidhu, along with the county party’s executive committee as a whole.
Kolstad’s rocky leadership
The most recent issues within the local party started with its leadership vote in January 2025. Citing voting irregularities among the Central Committee, member Peter Halajian formed his own shadow leadership group.
The state party eventually sided with Kolstad’s group as the rightful leaders of the party, GV Wire reported at the time. But that hasn’t stopped the division.
“Nothing that is currently happening with the Central Committee is surprising to anyone who has paid any attention to it over the past three years. And it didn’t have to be this way,” said Halajian, who is no longer on the Central Committee.
Voters selected Sherie Benbrook to the Central Committee in 2024. She remains a member, although siding with the Halajian faction. She said action had to be taken to enforce the bylaws.
Benbrook called for new party leadership.
“We’re not unified. We are not strong. We are not as we were. We used to be the strongest central committee in California, and now we are very ineffective,” Benbrook said.
Polsgrove’s litigation
Asked by The Bee why he filed the lawsuit, Polsgrove said “It’s all about the law.”
In his lawsuit, Polsgrove cited a state law that allows party nominees for positions like state Assembly to serve as county party ex officio members, which have the same rights and privileges as other members.
Kolstad, the lawsuit stated, refused to seat Polsgrove and the eight others at the Aug. 4 GOP meeting — citing that because the state uses an open primary and not a party primary, “the Republican candidates in the top-two for their respective races from the June 2nd Primary will have to wait until after the General Election in November before the Executive Committee will recognize them as Ex-Officio Members of the County Committee.”
Other members that Polsgrove said should be seated include Mike Murphy, candidate for Assembly District 27; state Senate candidates Nathan Magsig (12), Darin Dupont (14) and Guillermo Gonzalez (16); and congressional candidates Kevin Lincoln (13), Shane Lewis (18), Kyle Kirkland (21) and Rep. David Valadao, R-Hanford (22).
Although he is an incumbent, Valadao’s district will now include part of Fresno County, where it did not prior to Prop 50 redistricting.
Magsig was already a Central Committee member, winning a seat in 2024. The Fresno County Clerk/Registrar of Voters conducts central committee elections for all local parties — only registered members are allowed to vote.
The party recently removed Magsig from his seat on the Central Committee, although he is still listed on the party’s website. Kolstad said it was for excessive absences, allowed by party bylaws.
“It is the only reason anyone has been removed from the committee for a number of years,” Kolstad said.
Magisg had no comment when asked by The Bee.
The Fresno Bee
David joined The Fresno Bee in 2026 as Civic Watchdog Reporter. He covers elected officials from the Central Valley and the ins and outs of local elections and politics. David also keeps a sharp eye on how your local tax dollars are spent. David previously worked at GV Wire for 10 years. Born in Los Altos, California, David graduated from the University of Michigan and has lived in Fresno for two decades with his family.