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“Ken Calvert has disgraced Riverside County residents for nearly thirty years. From earning the title of ‘one of the most corrupt politicians in Congress,’ to betraying his sacred oath of office and aligning himself with insurrectionists who assaulted our democracy, Calvert has utterly disqualified himself as a representative. Now, Will Rollins, a former prosecutor who took on January 6th insurrectionists, is ready to hold Calvert to account. Rollins will stand up to Calvert’s radicalism and deliver results for Riverside County voters after they have too long been denied a commonsense voice in Washington.” – DCCC Chairman Sean Patrick Maloney
To: Interested Parties
From: Maddy Mundy, DCCC Regional Press Secretary
Date: June 8th, 2022
Subject: The Case Against Ken Calvert
In the wake of the January 6th insurrection, as the majority of Americans reacted with horror, Ken Calvert stated he hoped the charges against the individuals who stormed our Capitol would be dropped. Calvert’s dangerous downplaying of the insurrection came as no surprise to those familiar with his record. Calvert was one of 139 House Republicans who voted against certifying the election after the harrowing events of January 6th.
In the 2022 midterm, thanks to California’s nonpartisan redistricting, Ken Calvert finds himself newly vulnerable as he finally faces accountability for his radical MAGA positions. Throughout his political career in Washington, Calvert has pushed a radical agenda outside of the mainstream. From voting against historic funds to strengthen infrastructure and create jobs, to spewing homophobic rhetoric, this MAGA Republican cannot appeal to the new portions of his district, which includes one of the US’ largest LGBTQ communities.
Thankfully, the residents of California’s new 41st Congressional District have another option. With his robust campaign operation and compelling message, Will Rollins is in a strong position to take on Ken Calvert in the general election. Will, who will be the second openly gay representative from California if elected, has the background needed to hold Calvert’s extremism to account. Formerly, Will served our country as a federal prosecutor who focused on counterterrorism and counterintelligence cases. The last case he worked on included helping to prosecute January 6th insurrectionists.
Will became a national security and terrorism prosecutor because of 9-11, but over his career, he has seen the threats to our security change. Will knows America needs a new generation of leaders to end the toxic divisions that threaten our democracy and prevent us from solving the most pressing problems we face together.
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING
The Press-Enterprise: Inland Rep. Ken Calvert may face tough re-election bid after 30 years in Congress [May 24, 2022]
The Desert Sun: Calvert a creature of ‘the swamp’ [May 14, 2022]
KCRW: Can Trumpian lawmaker rep LGBTQ haven of Palm Springs? [February 8, 2022]
The Press-Enterprise: Ken Calvert, one-time foe of same-sex marriage, wants to represent LGBTQ haven Palm Springs [January 14, 2022]
The Desert Sun: A year later, Jan. 6 Capitol riot still in spotlight in two Riverside County races [January 6, 2022]
Metrosource: The Gayest City on Earth Is About to Have a Homophobic Congressman [December 29, 2021]
MAGA REPUBLICAN KEN CALVERT COMPLICIT IN INSURRECTION
Ken Calvert showed his contempt for American voters when he threw out their votes and attempted to overturn the results of the 2020 election. From that dark day, Calvert’s assault against our foundational democratic principles only continued. He voted against an independent commission to hold those responsible for the January 6th insurrection accountable. He even stated he hoped the charges against insurrectionists would be dropped.
KEN CALVERT’S BACKWARDS VIEWS ON WOMEN AND THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY
Calvert’s extremism threatens settled legal precedent on a host of social and civil issues. Calvert is complicit in MAGA Republicans’ crusade against legal abortion access. In Congress, Calvert signed an amicus brief asking the Supreme Court to overturn Roe and Casey, voted against the Women’s Health Protection Act, voted against a bipartisan law to make it illegal to barricade an abortion clinic, voted for a bill that would put doctors in jail for performing abortions, and voted against barring child rapists from being able to sue doctors who provided abortion care to a child incest victim.
Calvert’s extreme positions on abortion restrictions, including in instances of rape, are deeply unpopular amongst a majority of Americans – including Californians. A recent California statewide poll reveals Roe v. Wade is supported by Democrats, independents and Republicans, while experts predict reproductive rights will be a mobilizing factor among California swing voters this November.
With the Supreme Court set to overturn Roe v. Wade this June and Republicans frothing at the mouth to install a nationwide abortion ban if they retake majorities in Congress, the stakes have never been higher for Riverside County voters to send a champion of choice to Congress.
The Supreme Court’s pending decision has also sparked fears of the legal foundation of established rights for LGBTQ individuals. In such a precarious environment, Calvert’s documented record of anti-LGBTQ bigotry is all the more troubling. Calvert voted for the federal Defense of Marriage Act and sought to ban same-sex marriage in California. Last year, he voted against providing LGBTQ people with comprehensive protections against discrimination. With Palm Springs, home to one of the US’ largest LGBTQ communities, now drawn into Calvert’s new district, the Congressman will struggle to defend his bigoted record.
Calvert has also faltered in the face of the gun violence epidemic gripping our country. In the wake of the Uvalde shooting and a mass shooting in Orange County last month, Calvert’s opposition to commonsense gun violence reform is unconscionable. In 2019, Calvert opposed requiring background checks for private gun sales. In 2021, Calvert voted against enhanced background checks. Calvert’s extreme MAGA votes are a slap in the face to his constituents who demand commonsense measures to keep their communities safe.
CALVERT’S EXTREMISM HURT RIVERSIDE COUNTY’S WALLETS
Calvert has raced to the right and left his district behind. In vote after vote, he pushed an extreme MAGA agenda at the literal expense of Riverside County families. He attempted to stop historic infrastructure investments from reaching his constituents; he stood in the way of protecting our veterans; he voted against the bill that uplifted California’s workers, families, and small businesses during the worst of the pandemic; and he voted against capping the price of prescription drugs at a time when families are struggling with rising costs.
Republicans have been clear about their toxic, tax-raising agenda if they take back majorities in Congress this November. Republicans are campaigning on an agenda to raise taxes on millions of Social Security recipients and low-income Americans, while sunsetting programs like Social Security and Medicare. Calvert’s extreme record shows he would be a rubber stamp on Republicans’ anti-middle class, MAGA agenda.
CORRUPT CALVERT USED HIS POWER IN CONGRESS TO ENRICH HIMSELF
Calvert has not only pursued legislation that hurts the middle class, he has pushed federal legislation to fill his own pockets. Following his manipulation of earmarks, Calvert has been called one of the most corrupt members of Congress. He pushed through earmarks that garnered himself substantial personal profit. Calvert has also been tied up in illegal land deals which led to formal lawsuits for ‘fraud and deceit.’ Calvert has also been roundly condemned for his ties to Big Oil, having received hundreds of thousands in campaign donations from the industry.
PATH TO VICTORY
California’s 41st Congressional District continues to trend towards Democrats and away from Republicans. Since 2014, Republicans have lost 7 points in their registration share while Democrats have picked up 5 points. In recent elections, the district has swung in Democrats’ favor. President Biden performed 3 points better than Secretary Clinton in 2016.
On top of these trends, Ken Calvert has not faced a competitive campaign in more than a decade and is struggling to launch the robust campaign operation needed to keep this newly competitive district. His far-right record now leaves him vulnerable as most of the largest cities in the new congressional district voted for Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election.
Will Rollins is the best hope Riverside County has to finally have a voice of commonsense in Washington. As a gay man, Rollins understands the stakes of the MAGA assault on precious civil liberties. As a former prosecutor for the Justice Department, Rollins knows how to stand up to the antidemocratic forces that are trying to divide us. Will can speak to the needs of this district and take on the MAGA extremism embodied in Ken Calvert. |
