A GOP state lawmaker is asking Governor Newsom to investigate and cancel a $35-million contract with a public affairs firm which has strong ties to the Democratic Party and is supportive of Black Lives Matter. California Senate Republican Leader Shannon Grove from Bakersfield on Tuesday sent a letter to the Governor with that request regarding a voter campaign orchestrated by SKD Knickerbocker. On its website, the firm proclaims itself as supportive of Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden and "proud to be a part of Team Biden."
Read her letter here.
Grove is questioning both the legality and the appropriateness of the contract with SKD, which she says was awarded by California Secretary of State Alex Padilla without the required state oversight. She references a Sacramento Bee report citing officials within the Newsom Administration who also questioned the contract. She insists the Legislature intended that the money Padilla used for the SKD contract should go directly to election offices in all 58 counties. The Secretary of State's office responded to the newspaper by saying Padilla spent the millions on behalf of the counties.
"California's chief election office has been compromised," said Grove. "This contract is problematic, questionable, and reeks of political bias using taxpayer dollars. I ask Governor Newsom to immediately cancel the contract and investigate its legality and appropriateness. The integrity of our elections must not be compromised."
Governor Newsom was asked about the contract during a statewide briefing on Monday, but he declined to comment. The Governor promised to look into the contract and get back to the report who asked the question.