After more than two weeks, and there is no resolution on a leadership dispute within the Fresno County Republican Party.

Incumbent Liz Kolstad and newcomer Peter Halajian both claimed victory after separate leadership votes among the party’s executive committee on Jan. 7.

Last week, Kolstad’s group sent Halajian and his allies a cease and desist letter.

“Your attempted coup not only violated the law and the Fresno GOP’s governing documents but is extremely detrimental to the Fresno GOP’s ability to build upon its great work and fulfill its mission,” stated the letter from Los Angeles attorney Bradley Hertz.

On Jan. 7, Kolstad defeated Halajian, 15-14 at the main meeting. However, Halajian’s group called foul when at least one executive member — Connie Brooks — was not allowed into the meeting because she was late.

Halajian and others then reconvened the meeting at a local Denny’s. He contends that a 16-0 vote there put his slate in charge.

The letter calls those actions “invalid.” It also demanded that Halajian and his slate stop calling themselves officers of the Fresno County GOP, stop using the group’s name and trademarks, and stop contacting the state and national parties.

“We understand we cannot stop them from criticizing the Party or their loss, and we are not trying to do so.  We are simply demanding they stop pretending to be the Fresno County Republican Party,” Kolstad told Politics 101.

Kolstad’s group still controls the party’s office, social media, and bank accounts. In the last election cycle, the party’s federal political action committee raised $450,000, with approximately $45,000 cash on hand as of Dec. 31.

Related Story: Is a Fresno County GOP Leadership Rebellion Underway?

Halajian Isn’t Backing Down

Halajian is not treating the letter seriously and said that he purposely did not respond to Wednesday’s deadline.

“An empty threat is the way we took it. It was also somehow dismissive at the same time,” Halajian said.

The letter also references election inspectors at the Jan. 7 meeting, in accordance with the party’s bylaws. The inspectors are tasked with handling any election challenges. Halajian does not recall inspectors being appointed.

Halajian still plans on holding a party meeting Monday night at the Old Spaghetti Factory restaurant, which the letter demands they cancel.

The state party holds its spring convention March 14-16 in Sacramento. Halajian wants the leadership issue settled there, and said he is willing to accept the results.

County chairs are allowed to appoint delegates at the convention. Any disputes — such as who is the county chair making the appointment — would be decided by the Proxies and Credentials Committee.

“We’re just asking that they either recognize this or hold a fair election,” Halajian said.

Magsig Running for State Senate?

Fresno County Supervisor Nathan Magsig is considering a run for state Senate and has pulled papers for the seat.

“(I’m) moving in the direction of gearing up a campaign to be successful in that 2026 cycle,” Magsig, R-Clovis, said.

Shannon Grove, R-Bakersfield, the District 12 Senator, is termed out in 2026. The district includes Clovis, parts of Fresno, and snakes its way down to Bakersfield.

Oil production, agriculture, and fire safety are top of mind for Magsig.

“We definitely need to focus on the urban-wildland interface and making sure that we’ve got adequate buffers in place to protect our homes, businesses, and our communities from these devastating fires,” Magsig said.

Magsig won his third term on the supervisors last year, first elected in 2016. He spent the prior 16 years on the Clovis City Council.

No financial information for his state Senate account is available. He does have a Magsig for Supervisor 2028 account at the county level, showing more than $287,000 cash on hand as of June 30, 2024.

No other active candidate filed any paperwork to run. The primary is June 2, 2026.

Clovis Leaning Toward Five-Member Council

The Clovis City Council is reviewing voting maps for its switch to district elections in 2026. Seven preliminary maps were on display at the city council meeting on Tuesday, with no decision made.

However, the city council indicated a preference for a five-member city council, instead of four districts and one at-large mayor. The council now consists of five members elected city-wide and rotating into the mayor’s seat yearly.

The council also expressed a goal to be responsive to all residents’ needs, not just those in their district.

A final map is scheduled to be finalized in the spring.

In other action, despite the irony of meeting on Tuesday — because of the Martin Luther King holiday on Monday — the council decided to keep their meetings on Monday evenings.

Last November, the council voted to move to Tuesdays, but the idea failed to strike a chord with the public and councilmembers Lynne Ashbeck and Vong Mouanoutoua. Ashbeck called the move “silly” and a solution in search of a problem.

The 3-2 vote approved rescinding the change, keeping the meetings on Monday. However, because it takes 30 days before implementation, the next meeting will be Tuesday, Feb. 4.

Ashbeck, Mouanoutoua, and Matt Basgall voted yes; Diane Pearce and Drew Bessinger voted no.