California College Republicans Call for Nathan Fletcher’s Resignation from San Diego Board of Supervisors

The California College Republicans (CCR) join the growing calls for Chairman of the San Diego Board of Supervisors, Nathan Fletcher, to resign from the Board and face discipline as a professor at UCSD. This action is taken over his recent comments, which called supporters of the Governor Newsom recall effort “Neo Nazi[s]” and “white supremacists.”

Fletcher, the husband of Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez (who is mounting a bid for Secretary of State in 2022), has spent time publicly calling for unity since the November election. However, in contradiction of that, Fletcher has now called the more than 1 million Californians who have signed the petition to recall Governor Newsom “Trump inspired conspiracy theorists,” who are “now seeking to undermine our democracy in California.” He has also said that the petition leaders “are linked in associate with Neo Nazi, with white supremacists, with right wing militia groups, and we cannot stand for this here either.”

On January 13th, Carl Demaio, Chairman of Reform California, called for Mr. Fletcher’s resignation over these "false and dangerous smears.” Shortly after, the College Republicans at UCSD issued a statement saying, “Professor Fletcher’s words strike against the core of …. principles that make all Tritons safe and are simply unbecoming of a UC San Diego professor.”

“We are appalled at this rhetoric from Lorena Gonzalez’s husband, Mr. Fletcher. To equate anyone that disagrees with you or would like to see a different direction for this state — by engaging in the legal democratic process of a recall — as ‘white supremacists’ is egregious. Fletcher can no longer claim to represent San Diego County in good faith and should step down,” said Nick Ortiz, Chairman of the California College Republicans.

We are saddened that it has come to this point, but we hope that Mr. Fletcher will do the right thing for the people of San Diego and resign. CCR looks forward to the possibility of a new Supervisor that will uphold their commitment to represent all San Diegans and not foment division. UC San Diego should also take his comments seriously and review his conduct. 

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