Political "sign war" under way in Fresno County in presidential race

FRESNO, Calif. (KMPH) — We’re still more than a month away from Election Day.

But a political sign war is well under way in the Central Valley.

Both Republicans and Democrats say their signs are being stolen or defaced.

“We've never seen this much interest in yards signs for a presidential race ever,” said Fred Vanderhoof, Chairman of the Fresno County Republican Party. "We've got people of all ethnicities and walks of life energized."

Vanderhoof had large, 4’ x 8’ Trump-Pence signs in the back of his truck Monday, ready to be delivered to locations along Highway 41.

“We put them on major highways, freeways, and empty lots— with permission, of course,” he said. “We’re really seeing such a huge interest and we're excited about it."

But, Vanderhoof says some of the demand for signs large— and small— has been the result of an increase in thefts and vandalism.

Some of the signs are replacements.

“It seems like the left has turned so much to the left. They're trying to destroy things,” Vanderhoof says, referring to recent riots and civil unrest across the country. “We're not out doing it to the Biden signs.”

But democrats in Fresno County say they’ve experienced the same issues with vandalism and theft of political signs.

A sign at Friant and Audubon is taped together— after it was sliced with a box cutter.

Kathy Donohue says she’s put signs in front of her Fresno home to show her support for Democratic presidential candidates the last four elections— and never had any issues.

But, says she witnessed a woman trying to take her Biden-Harris sign from her yard Thursday evening.

"The sign didn't even make it through the night,” she says.

She says the woman wasn’t able to load the sign into her car, and dumped it on the sidewalk.

Donohue filed a police report and had a volunteer install her sign again.

"That's not going to change who I vote for,” she said. “I want people to be strong and be able to exercise their political right."

She says President Trump has emboldened his supporters— and some have gone as far as doing things like stealing signs.

“It's okay to be rude and obnoxious and racist to people. To come in their yard and disrespect them,” Donohue said.

Both Donohue and Vanderhoof agree, there needs to be civility.

“Both parties should have a respectful conversation and be able to have signs out without them getting damaged,” said Vanderhoof.

“I walk through my neighborhood all the time and I see [President] Trump signs,” Donohue said. "Do I feel like I have the right to batter theirs or trespass in their property and take their signs? No."

The vandalism has been expensive for both parties’ county offices, too.

The presidential campaigns do not provide signs, and offices have them made.

Signs range in prices from $10 for a small sign, to over $100 for larger ones.