Advocacy groups have condemned campaign mailers targeting Dr. Sion Roy, a cardiologist running for California’s State Senate, labeling them as racially charged and misleading.
SANTA MONICA, CA – A coalition of labor and Asian American and Pacific Islander advocacy groups has come together to denounce campaign mailers aimed at Dr. Sion Roy, who is running for California’s State Senate District 24. The coalition includes organizations such as South Asians For America (SAFA), SEIU California, UAPD Local 206, and the California Democratic Party AAPI Caucus.
The groups have described the mailers as containing a “racist dog whistle,” highlighting how they depict Roy in ultra-high contrast imagery that appears to darken his skin. This tactic, they argue, is intended to “other” the only AAPI candidate in the race, and they have criticized the mailers as racially charged political attacks.
In their joint letter, the coalition also addressed the financial backing behind these campaign materials, which were distributed by JobsPAC and supported by major utilities including PG&E, Edison International, and Sempra. They pointed out that these companies have spent $400,000 on negative advertising against Roy, despite his personal loss in the Palisades Fire.
“The deepest betrayal is who is funding these attacks,” the coalition stated, emphasizing that the utilities are currently facing lawsuits related to California wildfires. “Now they have the audacity to pour $400,000 into smearing a man who watched his own home burn,” the letter continued.
Dr. Sion Roy is an associate professor of medicine at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center and serves as the vice chair of the Santa Monica College Board. He has previously held the position of president of the Los Angeles County Medical Association and has been actively involved in local education and community initiatives in Malibu.
Roy’s campaign has focused on critical issues such as lowering living costs, protecting Medi-Cal, and supporting wildfire recovery efforts. He has also emphasized the importance of emergency planning and public safety in light of the recent Palisades Fire as the State Senate race heats up.
The coalition has called on the utilities to cease their support for “front groups like JobsPAC” and to be accountable to the communities affected by wildfires. As the campaign progresses, the focus on these issues is expected to intensify.
According to India-West, the controversy surrounding the mailers has sparked significant discussion about race and representation in California politics.