'Caitlyn Jenner is to trans Americans what Candace Owens is to black Americans': Republican reality star faces backlash over 'vanity campaign' to be California's next governor

 Cailtyn Jenner has been slammed over her announcement she is running for governor of California with LGBTQ+ community members saying they won't be backing her 'vanity campaign.'  

Jenner, 71, filed paperwork to launch her campaign and formally announced her run on social media Friday under the slogan 'Caitlyn For California'.  

While she is yet to confirm if she is running as a Republican or as an Independent, Jenner has surrounded herself with a team of former Donald Trump aides including his ex-campaign manager Brad Parscale and Caroline Wren - one of the organizers of the Stop The Steal rally on January 6 that escalated into the Capitol riot.  

Jenner, who is transgender, is a registered Republican and voted for Trump in 2016 but not in 2020, in protest against his position on transgender issues.  

In the social media post, the Keeping Up With The Kardashians' reality star vowed to 'turn this state around and finally clean up the damage Newsom has done' if she is elected in the recall election. 

But the confirmation of her run sparked an instant backlash among the American public, celebrities and even the LGBTQ+ community.

Many people took to social media to say it is a 'hard pass' that they would vote for her while the phrase 'HELL NO' began trending.  

Cailtyn Jenner (above) has been slammed over her announcement she is running for governor of California with LGBTQ+ community members saying they won't be backing her 'vanity campaign'

Cailtyn Jenner (above) has been slammed over her announcement she is running for governor of California with LGBTQ+ community members saying they won't be backing her 'vanity campaign'

Star Wars actor George Takei, who is gay, compared her standing in the LGBTQ community to that of Candace Owens in the black community

Star Wars actor George Takei, who is gay, compared her standing in the LGBTQ community to that of Candace Owens in the black community 

LGBTQ+ activist group Equality California said it 'can't wait to elect a #trans governor of California. But @Caitlyn_Jenner... Hard pass'

LGBTQ+ activist group Equality California said it 'can't wait to elect a #trans governor of California. But @Caitlyn_Jenner... Hard pass'

Trans activist Charlotte Clymer blasted Jenner's run calling her a 'horrible candidate'

Trans activist Charlotte Clymer blasted Jenner's run calling her a 'horrible candidate'

Confirmation of her run sparked an instant backlash among the American public, celebrities and even the LGBTQ+ community with many people taking to social media to say it is a 'hard pass' that they would vote for her

Confirmation of her run sparked an instant backlash among the American public, celebrities and even the LGBTQ+ community with many people taking to social media to say it is a 'hard pass' that they would vote for her

Star Wars actor George Takei, who is gay, took to Twitter to make it 'clear' that he won't be voting for Jenner and comparing her standing in the LGBTQ community to that of Candace Owens in the black community and Republican Rep. Madison Cawthorn in the disabled community. 

'Black people wouldn't vote for Candace Owen for office. The disabled community wouldn't vote for Madison Cawthorn,' he tweeted. 

'I'm LGBTQ but I won't be voting for Caitlyn Jenner. Just so we're clear.' 

Another social media user also drew parallels between Jenner and Owens, tweeting: 'To Fox News and the right. Caitlyn Jenner is to trans Americans what Candace Owens is to black Americans.'

Black conservative commentator Owens is known for her controversial views, sparking outrage last year when she said that George Floyd 'has been held up as a martyr sickens me' in the wake of his murder by white cop Derek Chauvin.  


Other prominent LGBTQ members and groups also responded far from favorably to news of Jenner's run, pointing to her longstanding support of Trump and the Republican party.

'Make no mistake: we can't wait to elect a #trans governor of California,' tweeted Equality California - one of the state's largest LGBTQ-rights. 

'But @Caitlyn_Jenner spent years telling the #LGBTQ+ community to trust Donald Trump. We saw how that turned out. Now she wants us to trust her? Hard pass.'  

Trans activist Charlotte Clymer blasted Jenner's run a 'vanity campaign' and 'selfish' move that will allow transphobia to 'go unchecked.'

'Caitlyn Jenner is a deeply unqualified hack who doesn't care about anyone but herself,' Clymer wrote. 

'Her views are terrible. She is a horrible candidate.'

In another tweet, she added: 'Caitlyn Jenner has no real support. I don't care about her candidacy. I do care about the ways in which her asinine views will be weaponized against trans people and the ways in which transphobia will go unchecked.

'This is purely a vanity campaign, and it's incredibly selfish.'   

Many pointed to her longstanding support of Trump and the Republican party

Many pointed to her longstanding support of Trump and the Republican party

Another social media user agreed, tweeting: 'Perfectly said. There have been more than a few vanity campaigns recently, where candidates care more about their (media) popularity than governance. 

'I hope the public knows governance isn't about 'who you want to have a beer with.' (But studies have proven otherwise).' 

Actress Alyssa Milano also waded into the drama tweeting: 'You are running as a Republican?! Republicans deny your existence and are trying to erase trans youth.' 

Actor and political commentator John Fuselsang also questioned Jenner's ties to the Republican party. 

'Caitlyn Jenner - the trans candidate for the party that despises trans people,' he wrote. 

Another person agreed writing: 'Caitlyn Jenner the Republican and #TransRightsAreHumanRights don't go together they don't care for the LGTBQ Community...

'I don't understand they block all bills related to the LGTBQ Community...how is CJ going to explain that?' 

And another social media user wrote: 'caitlyn jenner running for office with the party that routinely harms and attempts to erase lgbtq people is definitely something.'  

'Wait. Caitlyn Jenner is running for the same party who wants to ban trans from serving in the military, and puts up signs like this... What am I missing? #SayNoToJenner,' added another.    

Donald Trump's ex-campaign manager Brad Parscale
Tony Fabrizio worked for Trump in 2016 and 2020 as a pollster

While she is yet to confirm if she is running as a Republican or as an Independent, Jenner has surrounded herself with a team of former Donald Trump aides including his ex-campaign manager Brad Parscale and Tony Fabrizio - who worked for Trump in 2016 and 2020 as a pollster

Actress Alyssa Milano also waded into the drama, tweeting the phrase 'Hell no'

Actress Alyssa Milano also waded into the drama, tweeting the phrase 'Hell no'

Even Jennifer Finney Boylan, a transgender writer and professor at Barnard College who appeared in several episodes of Jenner's TV show I Am Cait and is a friend of the star's admitted she does not support her run.

'I'm not going to be commenting on Caitlyn Jenner's candidacy for CA governor. I said everything I have to say when I co-starred on her series,' Boylan tweeted.

'She is my friend, but yes, I did once hit her with a rolled up newspaper.' 

Boylan told the Washington Times: 'I wish her well personally.

'But I can't see how the conservative policies she is likely to embrace will help Californians.'  

Jenner used to be a vocal Trump supporter and was once spotted sporting a MAGA caps. 

She later sought to distance herself from his administration due to his policies discriminating against transgender people.   

Even Jennifer Finney Boylan, a transgender writer and professor at Barnard College who appeared in several episodes of Jenner's TV show I Am Cait and is a friend of the star's admitted she does not support her run

Even Jennifer Finney Boylan, a transgender writer and professor at Barnard College who appeared in several episodes of Jenner's TV show I Am Cait and is a friend of the star's admitted she does not support her run

But her campaign team reads like a who's-who of current and former Trump loyalists and she has failed to convince her fellow LGBTQ+ community members that she is the right person for the job. 

'Alas, Caitlyn Jenner hiring Brad Parscale is just as promising as Trump hiring Rudy Giuliani and Gaetz hiring Roger Stone,' one person wrote of her choice of campaign team.  

Others hit out at Jenner's run for other reasons including her reality star past.

'Caitlyn Jenner running for Governor of California. Why do these reality stars think they're f**king qualified to govern? I'm so sick of this s**t!' one person wrote.  

Meanwhile, former Trump lawyer Jenna Ellis was also far from convinced about her run.

'If the @GOP says Caitlyn Jenner represents the Republican Party, I'm done with the Republican Party,' tweeted Ellis. 

'Country over party, and our country is built on recognition of self-evident Truth, not big tent politics.'

Jenner's announcement also became the topic of conversation on talk show The View Friday - with co-hots Joy Behar (above) coming under fire for misgendering the 71-year-old during the discussion

Jenner's announcement also became the topic of conversation on talk show The View Friday - with co-hots Joy Behar (above) coming under fire for misgendering the 71-year-old during the discussion

Caitlyn Jenner tweeted telling Joy Behar not to 'sweat it' after The View co-host apologized

Caitlyn Jenner tweeted telling Joy Behar not to 'sweat it' after The View co-host apologized

Backlash against Caitlyn Jenner over bid for Governor of California on The View
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Jenner's announcement also became the topic of conversation on talk show The View Friday - with co-host Joy Behar coming under fire for misgendering the 71-year-old during the discussion.  

'He's got this guy Brad Parscale running his campaign. What do you think about that?' Behar asked co-host Sunny Hostin. 

'I mean, that guy was accused of using campaign funds to enrich himself. That's who is running his campaign — or her campaign, rather.'

Behar then apologized for the mishap after the ad break blaming it on a lack of sleep. 

'So first of all, let me apologize for my pronoun mix-up. I think I just didn't get enough sleep last night,' she said.  

'I had no intention of mixing them up and I tried to correct it immediately but, whatever, it just came out. So I'm sorry if anybody was upset by that.'  

Despite her apology, Behar came under fire for the mistake - before Jenner herself waded into the drama defending the host and telling her not to 'sweat it' and that 'California has bigger issues than pronouns'. 

Jenner tweeted early Saturday morning: 'Don't sweat it, @JoyVBehar. I'm not about cancel culture.

'I know where your heart is. California has bigger issues than pronouns.'  

Meanwhile, Bill Maher was also blasted over his reaction to her run as Jenner bore the the brunt of his jokes on his 'Real Time with Bill Maher' Friday night. 

'I know that you think of her as a reality show star, but c'mon, people, change,' Maher quipped on the show. 

'She is trans, rested and ready. She's got a great slogan, 'Take the sack out of Sacramento.''   

The host's comments sparked a backlash on social media with people blasting his comments 'transphobic.' 

Caitlyn's announcement on Friday on Instagram. She has not yet indicated if she'll run as a Republican or Independent

Caitlyn's announcement on Friday on Instagram. She has not yet indicated if she'll run as a Republican or Independent 

In Friday's Instagram statement, Jenner said: 'I'm in! California has been my home for nearly 50 years. I came here because I knew that anyone, regardless of their background or station in life, could turn their dreams into reality. 

'But for the past decade, we have seen the glimmer of the Golden State reduced by one-party rule that places politics over progress and special interests over people. Sacramento needs an honest leader with a clear vision. 

Caitlyn said she wants to 'take on' Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom who she says imposed an 'over restrictive' lockdown that damaged businesses and children's education

Caitlyn said she wants to 'take on' Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom who she says imposed an 'over restrictive' lockdown that damaged businesses and children's education 

'I have been a compassionate disrupter throughout my life, from representing the United States and winning a gold medal at the Olympics to helping advance the movement for equality.

'As Californians, we face a now-or-never opportunity to fundamentally fix our state before it's too late. 

'Taking on entrenched Sacramento politicians and the special interests that fund them requires a fighter who isn't afraid to do what's right.

'I am a proven winner and the only outsider who can put an end to Gavin Newsom's disastrous time as governor. 

'This will be a campaign of solutions, providing a roadmap back to prosperity to turn this state around and finally clean up the damage Newsom has done to this state.

'Small businesses have been devastated because of the over-restrictive lockdown. 

'An entire generation of children have lost a year of education and have been prevented from going back to school. 

'Taxes are too high, killing jobs, hurting families and putting an especially heavy burden on our most vulnerable people.

Jenner is already selling a range of memorabilia on her campaign website

Jenner is already selling a range of memorabilia on her campaign website 

'This is Gavin Newsom's California, where he orders us to stay home but goes out to dinner with his lobbyist friends,' she said. 


She was referring to a November incident where Newsom, after shutting down the state and telling everyone not to socialize, was pictured dining indoors at a luxury restaurant with a group of at least 10 people for a friend's birthday. 

Jenner first became famous as Bruce Jenner, a Team USA gold medal-winning decathlete, then stepped back into the spotlight as Kim Kardashian's step-father on Keeping Up With the Kardashians.

She revealed in 2015 that she was transgender and had started living as Caitlyn. 

Jenner's team includes controversial Trump aides. 

She has hired Tony Fabrizio, a pollster who worked on both of Trump's campaigns, and Brad Parscale also helped her in an informal role. 

Parscale was removed as Trump's campaign manager in the run-up to the 2020 election amid dropping poll numbers. 

He has since been working on a platform to protect conservatives against cancel culture, called Campaign Nucleus.

In September, Parscale's wife Candice called the cops to their home in Florida, saying he was suicidal and tried to hurt her during a public meltdown in which cops seized 11 firearms from his house.

He was involuntarily detained under Florida's Baker Act for three days and slapped with a risk protection order, and the politico later blamed the outburst on his career and having lost two children.  

Jenner is also being assisted by Caroline Wren who previously worked at Trump Victory, a joint fundraising committee for President Trump's 2020 campaign. 

She also helped organize the rally he addressed immediately before the U.S. Capitol assault on January 6.  

Jenner's team also includes Steven Cheung, who worked at Trump's White House in communications and who also worked with Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2003.  

The recall election comes amid growing calls by Republicans to oust Newsom. If a Republican wins, it will be the first time they have held the state since 2003, when Arnold Schwarzenegger won. 

Former San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer, former U.S. Rep. Doug Ose and businessman John Cox, who lost to Newsom in the 2018 governor´s race, are also running. 

A member of her team - which includes many prominent former Trump White House figures - told Axios: 'She's running as someone that's socially liberal and fiscally conservative.' 

One of the questions raised after Jenner announced her campaign is whether or not she'll reveal some of her famous family's finances when she discloses five years worth of tax returns, a requirement of the race.  

None of the Kardashian-Jenner clan have commented on her announcement.

Jenner first became famous as Bruce Jenner , a Team USA gold medal-winning decathlete. Above, the 1976 Olympics

Jenner first became famous as Bruce Jenner , a Team USA gold medal-winning decathlete. Above, the 1976 Olympics

Jenner then stepped back into the spotlight as Kim Kardashian 's step-father on Keeping Up With the Kardashians

Jenner then stepped back into the spotlight as Kim Kardashian 's step-father on Keeping Up With the Kardashians

Jenner at the 2015 ESPYS, accepting an award for courage after coming out as transgender

Jenner at the 2015 ESPYS, accepting an award for courage after coming out as transgender 

'Caitlyn Jenner is to trans Americans what Candace Owens is to black Americans': Republican reality star faces backlash over 'vanity campaign' to be California's next governor 'Caitlyn Jenner is to trans Americans what Candace Owens is to black Americans': Republican reality star faces backlash over 'vanity campaign' to be California's next governor Reviewed by Your Destination on April 24, 2021 Rating: 5

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