California Secretary of State Shirley Weber issued a statement Friday in response to Jewish community leaders criticizing her for publishing a voter-information guide with anti-Jewish conspiracy theories from a fringe gubernatorial candidate.
The anti-Jewish sentiments were written by Don J. Grundmann, an independent with no party affiliation and no prior political experience. Grundmann’s statement includes claims that conservative commentator Charlie Kirk was killed by an Israeli bomb, and that Israeli “art students” brought down the Twin Towers on 9/11.
“I am deeply and painfully aware that the candidate statement has caused tremendous concern,” Weber said in the statement. “My family and I have all had our own experiences of being victimized by hatred and racism. I condemn anti-Semitism, just as I condemn all forms of racism, religious intolerance and bigotry. They have no place in our society.”
Weber said that Grundmann’s claims, though offensive, are protected by the First Amendment.
“I am duty-bound to uphold the law, including the free speech protections afforded by the First Amendment of the United States Constitution and the California Constitution, as well as California’s laws governing candidate statements, as it currently exists,” Weber said.
FILE – California Secretary of State Shirley Weber speaks at the 2026 California Democratic Party State Convention in San Francisco, Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, File)
She added that California law does not give her the authority to alter or reject a candidate’s statement based on the content of their speech. Per state law, candidates’ statements are limited to 250 words and must not make reference to any opponent or other candidates.
“The statement in question was subjected to a detailed preliminary review by a team of legal professionals in the Office of the Secretary of State and California Attorney General’s Office,” Weber said. “These are experienced elections experts who review the content for adherence to federal and state laws. They found no legal basis to reject the statement or remove it from the Voter Information Guide, even taking into account its inflammatory, controversial, or offensive content.”
In accordance with California law, the contents of the state Voter Information Guide were posted publicly on the California Secretary of State website and outside the lobbies of Weber’s Sacramento and Los Angeles offices from Feb. 17, 2026, to March 9, 2026. During that period, voters are allowed to seek a writ of mandate requesting any portion of the voter guide be amended or deleted prior to print.
“According to statute, a writ can only be issued upon clear and convincing proof that the copy in question is false, misleading, or inconsistent with the requirements in the Elections Code, portions of the Government Code, or the Constitution,” Weber said.
The Jewish Federation Los Angeles issued a statement Thursday demanding that state leaders take responsibility for printing the conspiracies and implement safeguards to prevent hate speech in public resources.
“We categorically reject claims that state and federal law left the Secretary with no choice but to publish and disseminate this disgusting material,” the Federation’s statement reads. “While the United States Constitution protects even the most abhorrent hate speech from government suppression, the First Amendment does not require the government itself to print and distribute it.”
Although the Federation is publicly opposed to Grundmann’s statement, the organization did not challenge the content of his submission during the established timeframe, Weber said.
“Regarding the halting of state printing of the Voter Information Guide, at the time your letter was posted, the printing of the guide was already finished, and the mailings to voters were 80% complete,” Weber said. “There was no opportunity to halt or recall the Guide at that point.”
Weber added that her staff is considering using other resources, like social media, in future elections to further notify the public of candidates’ statements ahead of publication.
“While these details may not assuage the frustration and pain this situation has caused, my office is actively engaged in identifying how California’s laws can be strengthened in a manner that withstands state and federal constitutional scrutiny,” Weber said. “The Office of Secretary of State has complied with the law in this matter and is not at liberty to change the law. My staff and I are working closely with the Legislature to explore possible solutions.”
California residents will receive voter guides in the mail later this month ahead of the June primary.
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