San Diego County Gun Owners Chief: ‘Do Not Donate a Single Dime’ to Republicans

San Diego’s foremost Second Amendment lobby group is washing its hands of the Republican Party — a move that sparked puzzlement and confusion.

The morning after Corey Gustafson replaced Paula Whitsell as local Republican Party chair, the head of San Diego County Gun Owners PAC said in a news release: “DO NOT donate a single dime to the Republican Party in 2024. DO NOT volunteer for the Republican Party in 2024.”

What triggered that?

Michael Schwartz, the group’s executive director, went ballistic because the GOP Central Committee on Monday declined to endorse Cajon Valley school board president Jim Miller in his re-election race against Alex Welling.

“The Republican Party chose NOT to endorse Jim because they’re a bunch of RINO cowards,” Schwartz said in an email to “Fellow Gun Owners.” “Jim has one opponent and his opponent’s only political involvement appears to be participating in a fundraiser for an anti-gun candidate down south.”

Schwartz added: “As long as the Republicans vote against our efforts to fix the gun problem in California, they shouldn’t get your money or your effort. Remember, all these horrible gun laws happened on the Republicans’ watch.”

In an Instagram post drawing some conservative rebukes, Schwartz said: “This is not even close to the first time the San Diego County Republican Party has sold your gun rights down the river. They keep doing it because people keep allowing it.”

Gustafson, the new county GOP chair, didn’t respond to requests for comment.

But the candidates in question — Miller and Welling — added context to the controversy.

Miller told Times of San Diego that his endorsement was “simply postponed and will be reconsidered by the Central Committee in the near future.”

He says he looks forward to receiving GOP backing.

“I am also very proud to be a founding board member of the San Diego County Gun Owners PAC defending our Second Amendment rights for everyone, regardless of political affiliation,” said Miller, who noted: “I am not currently on SDCGO’s board and have no comment as to their current social media postings other than I deeply appreciate their support in helping me keep kids safe while recognizing the importance of school board elections.”

Welling calls himself a longtime supporter of San Diego County Gun Owners and appreciates the group’s work.

But he called Schwartz’s response to the nonendorsement “unfortunate and overblown — especially considering that schools boards have little to no bearing on 2nd Amendment issues.”

Welling — who labels himself a “reasonable Republican” on his X account — acknowledged that Miller has “effectively defended our right to bear arms,” but said Miller’s failure to win GOP endorsement is “merely a reflection of his leadership at Cajon Valley.”

“I didn’t actively pursue this candidacy,” Welling said via email. “Rather, I was approached by concerned parents frustrated with declining test scores, a lack of transparency and insufficient accountability from one of the highest-paid superintendents in the county.”

Welling said the GOP decision not to endorse was a “win for concerned parents, like myself, who plan to bring positive change to Cajon Valley.”

Miller is a hero to the gun lobby for his role in suing state Attorney General Rob Bonta in an effort to overturn the state’s assault-weapon ban. But Miller isn’t leveraging his named plaintiff status in his school board campaign.

“Let me state first and foremost without reservation that I support the students, families and stakeholders of Cajon Valley Union School District and set politics aside in my role as the president of the Board of Trustees,” Miller said. “I have been a lifelong Republican and have carried the Republican Party’s endorsement in all of my campaigns since 2009/2010.”

SDCGO leader Schwartz, who is registered decline-to-state, said over 40 gun-rights advocates showed up for the Central Committee meeting on behalf of Miller, an attorney.

Is he concerned that intraparty GOP squabbling might give Democrats a further electoral advantage?

“I don’t care if Republicans or Democrats have the advantage,” Schwartz said via email. “I only care that pro-Second Amendment candidates have the advantage.”

He said his group doesn’t angle to be friends with any party.

“We position ourselves so they wish to be our friend or know they’ll lose,” he said. “With Second Amendment [defeats], Republicans have a lot to lose.”

In both 2018 and 2020, San Diego County Gun Owners PAC gave the San Diego County Republican Party Central Committee $2,500, according to opensecrets.org.

In a Gun Owners Radio interview last September, Schwartz mocked candidate Welling and showed a photo of Welling at a fund-raiser for “anti-gun Democrat” Mary Salas, the former mayor of Chula Vista.

“He’s a nothing, …. I think he’s a plant,” Schwartz said of Welling in a YouTube clip. “I think he’s trying to pass himself off as Mr. Conservative. He’s a wolf in sheep’s clothing.”

But Schwartz’s ire isn’t aimed only at the county GOP.

He also recoiled against Instagram comments by Corbin Sabol, an incoming member of the Republican Party Central Committee who was handily beaten by Democrat Akilah Weber in a 2020 Assembly race.

In response to Schwartz calling on gun owners to shun the GOP, Sabol wrote: “This isn’t necessary. There will be new leadership in January and we will need your help to win elections and advance gun rights.”

Schwartz replied: “We’ll see you then. Let us know when you guys are ready to do some good on the Second Amendment front.”

Sabol shot back: “I will definitely heavily consider a candidate’s 2A stances when it comes to who I endorse. However, a school board member’s swim lane is not in securing and advancing 2A rights.”

Schwartz returned fire: “Are you part of that leadership? Because the last thing we need is Republican leadership that ‘will definitely consider, however. …’ when it comes to the Second Amendment.”

The conversation went on. But on Wednesday, Schwartz posted a photo of Sabol and ran a 200-word note of apology.

“When we are wrong, we say it,” he began. “Earlier this year, SDCGO asked you to vote for Corbin Sabol for San Diego County Central Committee. He gave all the right answers and had people vouch on his behalf. But… that’s what politicians do when they want your vote.

“Now that he’s been voted in (takes office in December), his tune has changed, and gun owners clearly can’t count on him. He doesn’t understand Second Amendment politics philosophically and appears to struggle with some pretty basic civics.

“If he ever votes in a way that supports the Second Amendment community, it will have been a coincidence not conviction.”

Schwartz confirmed that Sabol’s comments led to his Instagram post.

“We are embarrassed we endorsed someone who simply considers the Second Amendment and doesn’t understand why we endorse school board members,” he wrote me. “We endorse people who will proudly stand for the Second Amendment and has made the restoration and preservation of our Second Amendment rights a core value and focus. Corbin admits it is not.”