Brett Haddoak Faces Scrutiny Over Voter Websites
A Santa Clarita City Council candidate is under review for allegedly failing to disclose ties to partisan voter websites.
Updated on Oct. 29, 2026 in Elections
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Santa Clarita City Council candidate Brett Haddoak is facing questions over websites he created that presented themselves as nonpartisan. The sites allegedly featured MAGA labels and omitted specific opposing candidates without disclosing Haddoak as their creator.
Why it matters
The California Fair Political Practices Commission is reviewing the websites to determine if the candidate violated state campaign disclosure laws. These regulations are designed to ensure voters understand the origins of election materials to maintain transparency during the campaign cycle.
The California Fair Political Practices Commission is investigating potential violations of campaign law regarding the candidate-run websites. It remains unknown if formal penalties or fines will be issued following the commission review.
The players
Brett Haddoak
He is a candidate for the Santa Clarita City Council District 2 seat who previously campaigned under the name Brett Haddock.
California Fair Political Practices Commission
This is the state regulatory agency responsible for administering and enforcing the Political Reform Act and campaign disclosure laws.
Rachelle Haddoak
She is a candidate currently running unopposed for a seat on the Newhall District School Board.
The details
The websites, titled Santa Clarita Valley Voter Guide and Santa Clarita Districts, reportedly utilized a public submission form that required approval before content was published. Despite their stated nonpartisan nature, the sites allegedly applied MAGA labels to select candidates and excluded others entirely.
Timeline
The websites first existed in some form beginning in 2022.
User submissions to the sites were disabled on October 13, 2026.
The main guide claimed information originated from official documents on October 26, 2026.
The websites were observed carrying the MAGA label on October 27, 2026.
Political Context
The investigation into these websites follows the transparency requirements established by the Political Reform Act. Opponents and election watchdogs often push for stricter enforcement of these regulations to prevent the use of shadow campaign materials during local races.
Residents of Santa Clarita should remain aware that information appearing on self-described nonpartisan voter guides may be sponsored by the candidates themselves. This investigation serves as a reminder to verify campaign literature through official city or county election sources.
The takeaway
Voters can protect themselves by checking the disclaimer information on all political websites to identify who funded or created the content. Checking if a source is truly independent remains a critical step in navigating local campaign information.
Further reading
Find more local updates in the Santa Clarita Elections section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Hometown Station | KHTS FM 98.1 & AM 1220.
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Should independent voter guides be required to disclose if they are run by political candidates?
