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No, President Trump wasn’t ‘kicked off’ the California ballot. That’s Pants on Fire.
The California Republican Party made a misleading and blatantly inaccurate claim this week that President Donald Trump was "kicked off the California ballot" during a fundraising pitch on its website.
It asks supporters to donate to get Trump "back on the ballot."
The message goes on to claim "Governor Newsom signed SB27, preventing President Trump from appearing on next year’s ballot. The law is clearly unconstitutional and disenfranchises millions of California voters. We need your support to overturn SB27."
We set out on a fact check.
Our research
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Gov. Gavin Newsom did sign Senate Bill 27 into law last week. But it doesn’t prevent Trump or anyone else from appearing on the California ballot, nor does it mean he’s "kicked off."
Instead, it requires candidates for president and governor to release five years of tax returns to run in the state’s primary. The requirement does not extend to the general election.
Here’s what the law says:
"This bill would enact the Presidential Tax Transparency and Accountability Act, which would require a candidate for President, in order to have the candidate’s name placed upon a primary election ballot, to file the candidate’s income tax returns for the 5 most recent taxable years with the Secretary of State, as specified."
Trump has refused to release his returns, saying since his campaign for president they are under audit.
Trump, the Republican National Committee and California Republican Party have all filed lawsuits over SB 27, arguing it is unconstitutional and "a naked political attack" on Trump. The law passed on a party-line vote in the Democratic-controlled Legislature.
Some legal analysts have questioned it, as did former Gov. Jerry Brown when he vetoed a similar law two years ago, saying it would create a slippery slope of trying to force candidates to release additional information to run for president.
The courts will eventually decide on its constitutionality. But as it stands, it does not prevent Trump from appearing on the ballot.
Asked about the accuracy of the claim, a spokesperson for the California Republican Party pointed to a news release on the party’s website about the lawsuits. The release criticizes the law and contends Democrats are using it "to keep Republicans home" during the next election.
But it doesn’t provide any information showing Trump was kicked off the ballot or prevented from being on it. California is still several months from finalizing its ballot for the March 2020 primary.
After we asked about the claim, the headline on the party’s website changed slightly from President Trump "kicked off" the ballot to President Trump "off" the ballot.
Another line changed from asking donors to contribute to get Trump "back on the ballot" to get him "on the ballot."
Featured Fact-check
Our ruling
The California Republican Party recently claimed President Trump was "kicked off the California ballot" as a result of Senate Bill 27.
The recently signed law requires candidates for president and governor to release five years of tax returns to run in the state’s primary. It does not apply to candidates in the general election.
Republicans are challenging the law in court, saying it’s unconstitutional.
The law very well may be struck down by a court. But, as written, it does not kick Trump off the ballot or prevent him from being on it. That ballot is still several months from being finalized.
It might be a difficult decision for Trump to release his tax returns, which he has refused to do, but it still provides this avenue for him and all future candidates for president and governor to appear on the primary ballot.
The message on the state party’s website is blatantly false, ignores any mention of what’s actually in the law and how candidates can comply. What’s more, the false message is being used as a fundraiser.
For these reasons, we rate it Pants on Fire.
PANTS ON FIRE – The statement is not accurate and makes a ridiculous claim.
Click here for more on the six PolitiFact ratings and how we select facts to check.
Read About Our Process
Our Sources
California Republican Party, website, accessed August 2019
California Republican Party, news release, Aug. 6, 2019
Sara Lee, spokesperson, California Republican Party, Aug. 7, 2019
Associated Press, Trump, Republican Party Sue Over California Tax Return Law, Aug. 6, 2019
Senate Bill 27, text, accessed August 2019
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No, President Trump wasn’t ‘kicked off’ the California ballot. That’s Pants on Fire.
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