California Republican accused of changing his name to soak up another man’s popularity

Published January 30, 2024 4:51pm ET



Republican candidate Chris Mathys, who is vying for California’s 22nd Congressional District, has changed the pronunciation of his last name, and the new version sounds oddly similar to another California politician’s name.

Mathys, a staunch MAGA conservative, is running against Rep. David Valadao (R-CA), who represents the state’s 22nd District. His last name has traditionally been pronounced “Mat-eese” by news broadcasters, the House Majority PAC, and even by his own supporters. However, on Monday, Mathys released an ad pronouncing it as “Math-is,” Politico reported — reminiscent of Republican Assemblyman Devon Mathis’s surname. Mathis’s 33rd District overlaps with California’s 22nd District, which Mathys is seeking to represent.

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