Antisemitic Charlie Kirk conspiracy theorist rakes in votes for governor despite widespread condemnation

A California gubernatorial candidate whose antisemitic conspiracy theories earned furious backlash after they were published in a state voting guide still managed to score more than a thousand votes in his long-shot campaign.

Don J. Grundmann — who has peddled conspiracies claiming that Israel killed Charlie Kirk and perpetrated the 9/11 attacks — had tallied 1,350 votes as of Wednesday afternoon, with 55% of the votes counted, according to the Associated Press.

The support comes after several Jewish groups protested his inclusion in a candidate guide sent to millions of homes across the state that included his vile statements.

The guide was also posted online, where it still remains.

“Kirk murdered by shaped-charge bomb Israel used. Government knows,” he wrote in the guide, leading to protests aimed at California Secretary of State Shirley Weber, whose office published the booklet.

The 64-page document includes the name, photo, party preference and personal statement of every candidate on the 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.

Several Jewish or Israel-related groups — including the Anti-Defamation League of Orange County and Long Beach, the Jewish Federation of Orange County, and the Israeli American Council — sent a letter to Weber’s office in April protesting Grundmann’s inclusion in the guide.

“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 state.

The secretary of state’s guidelines for 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’ statements were featured in small print at the bottom of the page, while Grundmann’s showed more prominently and in bold.

After Jewish groups blasted Grundmann’s statement, the page that included guidelines on the state’s website was taken down, per the Times of Israel.

Grundmann first made headlines in 2019 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.”

As of Wednesday afternoon, Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton and Democrat Xavier Becerra were neck and neck in the race and likely headed to a run-off in the general election in November.

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