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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