MERCED, CA (October 23, 2025) — The Republican Party of Merced County hosted a “Save California Rally” on Wednesday, October 22, 2025, at the Merced Senior Community Center, featuring former U.S. Representative Matt Gaetz of Florida and Republican congressional candidate Vin Kruttiventi.
Event announcements from the county GOP stated that the rally was organized to oppose California’s Proposition 50 and to support Kruttiventi’s campaign for California’s 13th Congressional District. The event was open to the public and required RSVP registration.
Protesters gathered outside the venue during the event. The Merced Police Department confirmed that demonstrations took place but reported no major disturbances or arrests as of Thursday morning.
Both Gaetz and Kruttiventi posted on their official X (formerly Twitter) accounts following the rally. On October 22, Gaetz shared photos from the event expressing support for Kruttiventi and opposition to Proposition 50. Kruttiventi’s campaign account also posted images thanking attendees for their participation.
Although Gaetz represents Florida’s 1st Congressional District, he traveled to California’s Central Valley to appear at the rally at the invitation of the Merced County Republican Party and Kruttiventi’s campaign. Event materials identified Gaetz as a “special guest speaker.” His visit was part of a series of campaign appearances in California by national Republican figures ahead of the November 2025 election.
As of this publication, Proposition 50 remains scheduled for the November 2025 statewide ballot. Official information about the measure is available from the California Secretary of State’s Office at sos.ca.gov.
