In Final Weekend Bera Makes Elk Grove-Carmichael Push, Jones Notes Sac Bee Calls 'Rape Kit' Ad False

November 5, 2016 |

In the final days before Tuesday's hotly contested race for California's 7th Congressional District, the two candidates are pulling out all the stops. The race is expected to be decided by a razor-thin margin between Republican challenger Sacramento County Sheriff Scott Jones and Democratic incumbent Dr. Ami Bera.

For his final weekend of campaigning, Bera has recruited several high-profile Democrats for phone banking and precinct walks. Those activities include a noon precinct walk today in Elk Grove led by Sacramento Mayor-elect Darrell Steinberg and members of the Fem Dems club.

Tomorrow Bera will have a precinct walk in Carmichael starting at noon led by California State Assemblymember Ken Cooley (D - Rancho Cordova). At 3 p.m. another precinct walk will be held in Elk Grove led by Congressman Jared Hoffman (D - San Rafael) and California State Assemblymember Jim Cooper (D - Elk Grove).

Jones, who has not announced campaign events or appearances, has focused on rebutting claims made by the Bera campaign. Specifically, the Jones campaign has emphasized that a commercial made by Bera claiming rape kits are not being processed by the Sacramento Sheriff's Department, has been rated false by the Sacramento Bee's PoliGRAPH political fact-checking service.

The Jones campaign released a statement this morning demanding the Bera take down that ad down. Jones and former Sacramento County District Attorney Jan Scully said the ads could have a chill effect on victims reporting sexual assaults.

"Ami Bera has run one of the dirtiest campaigns in recent history and this final ad from his campaign is not only false, it could discourage rape victims from reporting their crimes," Jones said in the statement. "As Sheriff, I call upon Bera to pull this irresponsible ad from the airwaves immediately before any more damage is done." 

Sacramento Bee Reporter Sean Cockerham wrote "The advertisement’s implication that rapists have been allowed to go free under Jones as '68 percent of rape kits in Sacramento County go unprocessed' is a big stretch."

The Jones campaign claims the ad, which has been running for one week, has been seen by hundreds of thousands of viewers.