{"id":2229,"date":"2026-05-19T04:05:30","date_gmt":"2026-05-19T04:05:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sandiegorelocationnews.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/19\/misleading-unsigned-postcard-urges-california-man-to-vote-for-two-candidates\/"},"modified":"2026-05-19T04:05:30","modified_gmt":"2026-05-19T04:05:30","slug":"misleading-unsigned-postcard-urges-california-man-to-vote-for-two-candidates","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sandiegorelocationnews.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/19\/misleading-unsigned-postcard-urges-california-man-to-vote-for-two-candidates\/","title":{"rendered":"Misleading, unsigned postcard urges California man to vote for two candidates"},"content":{"rendered":"
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There was a second where Democrat Howard Hersh believed the handwritten, friendly postcard urging him to vote for two Democrats in the June 2 primary for governor when it arrived in his Nevada City mailbox last month.<\/p>\n

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\u201cMomentarily, anyway, until I realized it was a scam that would invalidate my vote,\u201d Hersh wrote in an email.<\/p>\n

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California voters may select only one candidate per race. The state\u2019s top two vote-getters in the primary move on the general election. A handful of mostly local races can win outright in the primary.<\/p>\n

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It\u2019s not clear who was behind the unsigned postcard, which didn\u2019t contain any other election disclosures. Spokespersons for the California Democratic Party and the California Fair Political Practices Commission said they hadn\u2019t received any complaints about similar mailings.<\/p>\n

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But the postcard Hersh received appears to be part of a misinformation campaign targeting Democrats who might be deceived into voting for two candidates, a move that would spoil their ballot.<\/p>\n

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\u201cI\u2019ve not seen this particular dirty trick before, but misleading voters in mailers is common,\u201d said UCLA election law professor Richard Hasen.<\/p>\n

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He pointed to tactics in Virginia\u2019s recent redistricting referendum, where opponents of Democrats\u2019 push to gerrymander published messaging that falsely suggested the state\u2019s Democratic Gov. Abigail Spanberger, was opposed to the effort.<\/p>\n

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The California postcard appears to prey on fears that Democrats\u2019 splintered gubernatorial field and California\u2019s jungle primary system, where two candidates advance regardless of party, could cause them to be locked out of the general election. Those fears have dimmed in recent weeks, with Republican Steve Hilton consolidating GOP support after winning an endorsement from President Donald Trump.<\/p>\n

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The postcard address Hersh by name and said, \u201cwhen you vote for CA governor in June, please vote for two Democrats or we could end up with 2 Republicans (NO DEMS) on the November ballots.\u201d<\/p>\n

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USPS markings indicate it was mailed from Sacramento.<\/p>\n

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