California's official voter guide — mailed to every registered voter in the state — contains a candidate statement filled with virulent antisemitic conspiracy theories.

The statement, submitted by an independent gubernatorial candidate, falsely claims that Israel carried out the September 11 attacks, calls Jewish people "less than human animals/cattle," and links to websites run by the Goyim Defense League — a notorious antisemitic hate group. It has nothing to do with the candidate's qualifications or platform. It is hate speech, plain and simple.

And the State of California printed it. And mailed it. To millions of homes.

A disclaimer at the top of the statement doesn't undo the harm. As one rabbi put it: "The First Amendment protects the speech. It does not require the state to hand out the megaphone."

California's own candidate statement guidelines are clear: statements must be limited to a candidate's personal background and qualifications, may not reference other candidates, and noncompliant statements are subject to disqualification. This statement violated every one of those rules — and was published anyway.

We are calling on Secretary of State Dr. Shirley Weber to:

- Explain how this statement was reviewed and approved for publication
- Remove the statement from the online voter guide immediately
- Clarify what procedures are in place to ensure compliance with candidate statement guidelines
- Commit to consistent, even-handed enforcement of those rules going forward

Antisemitism is rising across California and the country. Public institutions cannot be platforms for it — not even by accident.