#MeToo scandal becomes election strategy for California Republicans

SACRAMENTO — Following a tumultuous year at the California Capitol during which half a dozen lawmakers were publicly accused of sexual misconduct, several Republican challengers in legislative districts are using Sacramento’s #MeToo moment as a campaign issue to attack their Democratic opponents.

In Riverside, Bill Essayli is airing a television ad that slams Assemblywoman Sabrina Cervantes for accepting campaign contributions from colleagues reprimanded for sexual harassment. Alexandria Coronado, running in Orange County, makes a similar critique on a website highlighting Assemblywoman Sharon Quirk-Silva’s “scary record on sex crimes.” And in suburban Sacramento, Melinda Avey has repeatedly denounced Assemblyman Ken Cooley on her website and social media for blocking a bill to open up legislative investigation records.

These candidates have widely varying odds of victory. Essayli is Republicans’ best opportunity to pick up a seat in the Legislature this November, in a district traditionally held by the GOP that Cervantes narrowly won in 2016, while Avey has raised less than a tenth of what Cooley has so far this year.

But their strategies reflect a broader effort by California Republicans, long locked out of real power in Sacramento, to regain traction with voters by spotlighting what they see as hypocrisy in the ruling Democratic Party.

“We’ve all year been trying to point out places where the Democrats say one thing and do another,” said Cynthia Bryant, executive director of the California Republican Party. “If this kind of stuff makes you mad, then come be with us.”

The state party ran two digital ads this spring on similar themes — one urging Cooley to release the records bill from committee; another highlighting “disgraced” Senate Democrats such as Tony Mendoza, who resigned following multiple accusations of inappropriate behavior with female employees — though Bryant said it did not advise candidates to use sexual harassment in their messaging.

Despite adopting a new harassment policy that has helped improve the atmosphere in the building, Bryant added, the Legislature continues to fight lawsuits by former employees who allege they were wrongly fired for reporting sexual misconduct, including one ex-staffer who says she was dismissed after complaining about Mendoza.