Valadao opponent denied choice to call himself ‘Trump Conservative’ on ballot. He’s suing

Former Fresno City Councilmember Chris Mathys is suing California Secretary of State Shirley Weber for the right to be described as “Trump Conservative/Businessman” as he challenges Rep. David Valadao for the Republican nomination to the new 22nd Congressional District.

A hearing on the matter will take place Friday at 11:30 a.m. Voting will take place in the June 7 primary election.

Valadao previously distanced himself from former President Donald Trump, being one of 10 House Republicans who voted for impeachment over the former president’s role in the insurrection at the Capitol on Jan. 6.

In a Feb. 28 letter to Mathys, Robbie Anderson, the election consul for the Secretary of State, said the designation “Trump Conservative does not designate a current vocation, profession, or occupation for the purpose of a ballot designation.” The letter also states that the term “businessman” is “not supported in your ballot designation worksheet signed on Feb. 15, 2022.”

Mathys argued in a press release that “I have a right to self-identify as well as my right to choose a ballot designation that aligns with my principals without discrimination.” His lawsuit also maintains that the voters should be the arbiter of his decision.

This story was originally published March 23, 2022 at 2:00 PM.