Danville: Congressional challenger Fitzgerald is open Holocaust denier

John Fitzgerald, a Republican candidate vying to represent Danville and Alamo in Congress, has received national attention in recent days after reports by the New York Times and other news agencies detailed his history as a Holocaust denier.

Fitzgerald, who finished a comfortable but distant second place in the June primary despite being denounced by the California Republican Party, is set to appear on the general election ballot against incumbent U.S. Rep. Mark DeSaulnier (D-Concord) for the 11th Congressional District.

Something that Fitzgerald left off his campaign platform during the primary election was his adamant denial of the Holocaust as well as his anti-Semitic sentiments — revelations that have now taken center stage for the candidate.

“Although the reporter was somewhat fair and above board, she purposely neglected to allow approximately 90% of my interview/comments to be on record,” Fitzgerald said of the New York Times article on his Facebook page Saturday. “I now have (received) in excess of 400 people threatening to destroy me and my business via Twitter, Facebook and personal emails. Why? Because I tell the truth about Jewish elitists who have — in the past — and presently still are destroying innocent lives for Israel’s sake!”

Fitzgerald, a small business owner from Concord, has not responded to requests for comment Monday.

Running as the lone Republican candidate on the ballot, Fitzgerald earned 23% of the vote from 36,279 District 11 voters in the primary to finish in second place to DeSaulnier, who garnered 68% of the vote. Fitzgerald defeated Democrat transportation manager Dennis Lytton (5.5%) and Chris Wood (3%), who listed no party preference.

DeSaulnier and Fitzgerald will now face off in the Nov. 6 general election.

After automatically endorsing Fitzgerald following his declaration of intent to run, the California Republican Party in late May rescinded its support. In fact, state GOP chairman Jim Brulte released a statement actively condemning Fitzgerald’s candidacy.

“Those views have no home in the Republican Party. As always, California Republicans reject anti-Semitism, and all forms of religious bigotry, in the harshest terms possible. We reject John Fitzgerald’s campaign and encourage all voters to do the same,” Brulte wrote.

In recent weeks, Fitzgerald has been making an increasing number of posts on his campaign website discussing topics on “Jewish supremacy,” “anti-whiteness” in America and the decline of civility in society.

Fitzgerald appeared on a radio show last week to promote his campaign and attempt to discredit the stories of the 6 million Jews killed in Nazi concentration camps, as well as the survivors who lived through Holocaust.

“Jewish supremacists and elitists have covered up a vast amount of historical data … Everything we’ve been told about the Holocaust is a lie,” Fitzgerald said last week on a radio show hosted by adamant Holocaust denier and credited anti-Semite Andrew Carrington Hitchcock. “My entire campaign for the most part is about exposing this lie.”

On his Facebook page, Fitzgerald confirmed that he is a Holocaust denier but maintains that he is not an anti-Semite –while adding in the same breath that he has received a “thousand” negative social media messages, the majority from people that “have Jewish names associated with them.”

The national Republican Jewish Coalition has been among the organizations to speak out against Fitzgerald’s campaign.

“We absolutely and unequivocally condemn John Fitzgerald and his campaign for Congress. His anti-Semitic views have no place in our political system,” executive director Matt Brooks said.