Last week, the Official Voter Information Guide for the June 2026 Primary began arriving in California mailboxes statewide. Tucked inside that state-issued booklet, alongside the legitimate candidate statements you would expect, was something most of us never imagined would appear under the seal of the State of California: a violent screed of antisemitic conspiracy theories, accompanied by links to overtly racist, homophobic, antisemitic, and white nationalist websites.
A disclaimer on the page does not undo that harm. When antisemitic conspiracy theories are printed in an official government document and mailed to 23 million people, those lies are given a platform and a veneer of legitimacy they would never otherwise have. This should not have happened, and we must ensure current guidelines are clarified, strengthened, and consistently enforced so it never does again.
We have been in communication with the Secretary of State’s office regarding current and future steps that can be taken. We are also working closely with the California Legislative Jewish Caucus and Assemblymember Gail Pellerin – a Jewish Caucus member and chair of the Assembly Elections Committee – on legislation to ensure that hate of this kind never again appears in an official state publication. We will keep you updated as this work progresses.
This episode arrives at a moment when antisemitism is surging across the country and across the political spectrum. Our community continues to be targeted from many places at once – in our schools, at our synagogues, online, and now in our mailboxes. The through line is the same: Jews remain a convenient scapegoat for grievances of every ideological stripe. California must not – inadvertently or otherwise – become a megaphone for any of it.
Assemblymember Gail Pellerin
“During my 27 years as a county elections official, I rejected numerous candidate statements that failed to comply with the Elections Code’s requirement that they be limited to a recitation of a candidate’s background and qualifications. The antisemitic statement included in the state voter information guide is reprehensible. It does not reflect California’s values and has no place in voter resources produced and distributed by the state. I will work with my colleagues to advance legislation that ensures that this kind of content never appears in official election materials again.” –Assemblymember Gail Pellerin
We are grateful to Assemblymember Pellerin and the Jewish Caucus for their steadfast partnership and forceful response – their full statement is available here – and to our partners who raised the alarm last week and laid the groundwork for the state’s response.
This is a reminder that California has the people, the institutions, and the political will to get this right. We will keep showing up with our partners and our allies in the Capitol until we do.
Onward,
David Bocarsly
CEO
Jewish California (formerly JPAC)
Jewish California’s 43 member organizations — including Jewish Federations, Jewish Community Relations Councils, Jewish Family Service agencies, and others — serve hundreds of thousands of Californians of all backgrounds and represent the interests of California’s 1.2 million Jews.
RETRACTION: “Operation Epstein Fury” letter to the editor on Friday, April 17
By Galen Kusic, Editor, The Benicia Herald, April 22, 2026
The Benicia Herald extends a sincere apology to the Jewish community and all Benicia residents for printing a letter to the editor, “Operation Epstein Fury” by Jake Pickering in the Friday, April 17 edition in the Forum section. Antisemitism should never be tolerated in any form. We are truly sorry for the pain and hurt this letter has caused to the Jewish community and beyond. As editor, this was an egregious oversight and I take full responsibility on behalf of the Herald and staff.
Allowing a platform for baseless conspiracy theories and hateful stereotypes is both dangerous and irresponsible. Benicia celebrates a diverse Jewish community and no one of any ethnic or cultural background deserves to be subjected to these baseless attacks or false generalizations and stereotypes.
Antisemitism is on the rise worldwide, especially in the United States. Let this be a moment to denounce bigotry and hate in all forms. It is my hope that through this editorial blunder, education and awareness can be brought to this issue that unfortunately still largely persists in our society. By drawing attention to the problem, it is my goal that this type of thinking and behavior will one day be eliminated altogether.
Providing a safe space for a robust political discourse is a crucial component of the Herald’s service to the community. Exercising First Amendment rights and free speech is greatly encouraged. The Forum page serves as a vital place for community dialogue and discussion, allowing differing views and opinions.
Unfortunately when this turns to hate, generalized stereotypes and bigoted rhetoric, it ceases to serve that purpose. The Herald failed miserably in this respect on Friday, April 17 by violating its own letter guidelines and printing this hateful letter. I graciously thank all those that have written, called or reached out to share their concerns and point out this bigotry and hate.
Let us all work together to better educate each other and expose hate when it appears. Together, through unity, equality and love we can all help make the world a better place.
The Herald apologizes for any harm caused and prints this retraction and apology on behalf of all those affected.
Response to “Operation Epstein Fury” (April 17, 2026)
Terry Scott, Benicia
By Terry Scott, Benicia Resident, April 19, 2026
The letter published in last Friday’s Benicia Herald under the title “Operation Epstein Fury” must not pass without a direct response from this community and the Benicia Herald Editor or Publisher.
Did you read the letter before publishing it?
The letter is antisemitic. It’s not edgy. It’s not provocative.
It’s the same old antisemitic crap I’ve put up with all my life.
I usually just shrug this antisemitism off. But this writer had gone too far. I simply can’t take the blatant in your face antisemitic commentary published in a newspaper in my little city.
This virulent LTTE deploys centuries-old tropes: Jewish people as shysters, blackmailers, and puppet masters manipulating governments. It uses a Bible verse from Revelation that has been weaponized against Jewish people throughout history to brand us as agents of Satan.
This is not political commentary. It is hate speech.
Benicia is a community that prides itself on civility, inclusion, and honest debate.
We can and should discuss vigorously U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East. Those are legitimate conversations. But wrapping policy disagreement in ethnic hatred is not debate — it is plain old bigotry, and it will poison public discourse.
The Benicia Herald has every right to publish letters reflecting a wide range of views.
But publication implies a minimal editorial standard. This letter fell way beneath it.
I would ask the editors to reflect on that, and I would ask our community not to let it stand unanswered.
Hatred thrives in silence.
Use your voice and join me in calling out antisemitism and all forms of hatred when you see it.
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