1 min read
Sources:
press and public records, Kevin's account, his own videos
["default","lime","sky"]
Short answer
No. In August 2021 his attorneys sent CNN a cease-and-desist letter over a line saying no Democrats were competing against their own party’s governor, which ignored his polling. CNN revised the line to say no party-backed Democrats. That was the whole 2021 episode: a letter and a correction. The lawsuit people remember is separate and came in 2024, over debate streaming rights. 12
2021: Cease-and-desist (a letter, not a suit)
CNN's fix: Revised the line (to "no party-backed Democrats")
The actual lawsuit: 2024 (a different matter, see the next note)
The record
In August 2021 CNN’s coverage of the recall stated that no Democrats were competing against their own party’s governor. Kevin, then the top-polling Democrat on the replacement ballot, had his attorneys send a cease-and-desist. CNN revised the line to say no party-backed Democrats were competing. 1
Kevin’s account
Kevin’s account
CNN ran a homepage article that refused to acknowledge any prominent Democrats were competing, completely icing me out despite my polling. My attorneys sent a cease-and-desist; CNN corrected the language. That was the whole of the 2021 episode: a letter and a correction, no lawsuit. 2
The confusion
There was a real lawsuit against CNN’s parent, but in 2024 and about presidential-debate streaming. It has its own page.
In his own videos
2021 was a letter, and CNN corrected the sentence. The lawsuit was three years later and about something else. 12
Simply put
✅ What happened
➡️ CNN wrote that no Democrats were running against Newsom. Kevin was polling as the top Democrat.
➡️ His lawyers sent a letter. CNN changed the wording.
✅ What did not happen
➡️ No lawsuit in 2021.
Sources
Wikipedia, Kevin Paffrath (August 2021 cease-and-desist; CNN revised to "no party-backed Democrats"), Open
Kevin's account, The 2021 CNN episode: “That was the whole of the 2021 episode: a letter and a correction, no lawsuit.” Read the excerpt
Kevin on YouTube, "I'm Suing CNN." (2021-08-24), at 0:46: “survey usa and the san diego tribune they did a statewide poll and they found that i was the leading challenger against newsom” Watch from 0:46
Kevin on YouTube, "Donald Trump is Pissed" (2023-09-12), at 3:38: “I had to send cease and desist letters to them when I ran in California for governor” Watch from 3:38
