Screenshot via Caitlyn for California campaign advert
MALIBU | Former Trump presidential campaign manager Brad Parscale released the first campaign advert May 4 for reality television celebrity Caitlyn Jenner who is running to replace California Governor Gavin Newsom in the recall election race.
The ad drew an immediate and overwhelmingly negative reaction for exasperated social media users, many who identify as LGBTQ, decrying the reality TV personality getting into politics.
Jenner, 71, who is trans herself, had drawn a firestorm of criticism over the past few days after she was caught outside a Malibu coffee spot May 1 and made remarks to a reporter from celebrity tabloid media outlet TMZ, saying that she didn’t think it was fair to have trans women athletes competing in girls’ and women’s sports.
In Tuesday’s advert, Jenner claims to be a “compassionate disrupter” and offers to rebuild and reopen California while in imagery silently alludes that Newsom, in conjunction with “big government,” has destroyed the state.
“I came here with a dream 48 years ago, to be the greatest athlete in the world,” she says in the ad, noting her own history in the state. “Now I enter a different kind of race, arguably my most important one yet: to save California.”
Reaction to the ad has been brutal.
I come here today with lots of privileges, no policies, and once I’m governor, will declare transgender girls have no place in politics, just like I say they have no place in women’s sports, after I competed in a women’s golf tournament.
Vote for Caitlin to be the Wheaties trans pic.twitter.com/hjqoNXtYXR
— Meidas Rick🏳️🌈 (@RandallUhrig) May 4, 2021
Well at least you’ve had the decency NOT to mention the trans community in this promotional video. Small mercies I suppose considering the damage you’ve done as a self-appointed spokesperson.
— Nikki The Mermaid (@WiganNikki) May 4, 2021
— Elliott Danks (@ElliottDanks) May 4, 2021
Another challenger to Newsom also released a campaign video, Sacramento’s Fox affiliate KTXL reported.
California businessman John Cox, who has challenged Newsom previously for the governorship, launched his Meet the Beast Bus Tour May 4 at Miller Regional Park in Sacramento. Cox brought a live bear with him.
Yes there’s an actual bear to kick off the John Cox campaign to recall Governor Gavin Newsom. pic.twitter.com/4b65fPS0i1
— Karma Dickerson (@karmadfox40) May 4, 2021
Throughout the news conference, Cox attacked Newsom’s handling of the state’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, water management and strain on the power grid.
Cox lost the 2018 general election to Newsom by 23 points.