PolitiFact

The Poynter Institute

English Español

Stand up for the facts!

Our only agenda is to publish the truth so you can be an informed participant in democracy.
We need your help.

I would like to contribute

PolitiFact California writer

Chris Nichols is the PolitiFact California reporter for Capital Public Radio. For the past dozen years, Chris has worked as a government and politics reporter at newspapers across California. Most recently, he covered the Capitol for the San Diego Union-Tribune. Previously, he worked at the North County Times in Escondido; the Lodi News-Sentinel and the Sonora Union-Democrat.

Featured Statements

Larry Elder
stated on August 31, 2021 in a CNN interview:

“I don’t believe the science suggests that young people should be vaccinated. I don’t believe that young people should have to wear masks at school. I’m not sure the science is settled on that at all.”

By Chris Nichols • September 11, 2021
Larry Elder
stated on August 19, 2021 in a tweet:

“California voters to be able to download ballots at home for recall election, sparking security concerns.”

By Chris Nichols • August 27, 2021
Kamala Harris
stated on June 1, 2021 in an interview on MSNBC:

"Sadly during the course of the pandemic one-third of our small businesses have closed."

By Chris Nichols • June 7, 2021
John Cox
stated on May 4, 2021 in a campaign press conference:

California Gov. Gavin Newsom “just let 76,000 inmates out of jail."

By Chris Nichols • May 5, 2021
Kevin Kiley
stated on April 26, 2021 in a tweet:

“San Francisco had twice as many drug overdose deaths as COVID deaths last year.”

By Chris Nichols • April 29, 2021
Gavin Newsom
stated on March 9, 2021 in a State of the State Address:

“California’s [COVID-19] death rate has remained one of the lowest per capita in the nation: 134 deaths per 100,000, compared to 158 nationally, 153 in Texas and 247 in New York.”

By Chris Nichols • March 10, 2021
Doug LaMalfa
stated on March 2, 2021 in a constituent email.:

Voting-rights legislation proposed by Democrats in Congress called H.R. 1 “would force states to restore the voting rights of convicted felons—including violent felons convicted of murder or rape.”

By Chris Nichols • March 4, 2021
Kevin Sorbo
stated on February 15, 2021 in a tweet:

“So California is requiring signature verification for Gavin Newsom’s recall, but didn’t require it for the mail in ballots.”

By Bill McCarthy • February 16, 2021
Kevin McCarthy
stated on February 9, 2021 in a press release:

Raising the national minimum wage to $15 per hour “would destroy up to 3.7 million jobs.”

By Chris Nichols • February 11, 2021
Bloggers
stated on January 28, 2021 in a blog:

Facebook tried to “shut down” the campaign to recall California Gov. Gavin Newsom.

By Chris Nichols • February 2, 2021

PolitiFact California Guide To Misinformation About The Newsom Recall Election

By Chris Nichols • August 16, 2021
Kevin Faulconer Wants To Tackle California's Homelessness Crisis. What Did He Do As San Diego Mayor?

By Chris Nichols • July 23, 2021
Are California recall leaders tied to militias and QAnon? We fact-checked Gov. Newsom's claims

By Chris Nichols • March 18, 2021
Sacramento Could Be One Of First Cities To Reform Single-Family Zoning. Here’s How It Would Work.

By Chris Nichols • February 25, 2021
After Calling U.S. Capitol Insurrection ‘First Shots Against Tyranny,’ Calif. Lawmaker Backtracks

By Chris Nichols • January 12, 2021
No Evidence To Support Claims Californians Fraudulently Voted In Nevada Election

By Chris Nichols • November 10, 2020
What To Know Before Voting In-Person In California

By Chris Nichols • October 30, 2020
Advice For Making Sure Your Mail-In Ballot Gets Counted In California

By Chris Nichols • October 23, 2020
Trump Administration Approves California Fire Assistance, One Day After Rejecting It

By Chris Nichols • October 16, 2020
What’s Allowed And What’s Not At Voting Sites In California?

By Chris Nichols • October 2, 2020