California Assemblymember Chris Holden Targeted by McDonald’s Franchisees Over Minimum Wage Bill

California Assemblymember Chris Holden of Pasadena is the target of nearly $300,000 in attack ads funded by a political action committee of McDonald’s franchise owners seeking revenge for his authorship of a bill hiking the minimum wage for fast food workers to $20 per hour, according to sacbee.com.

Campaign finance records show the California Alliance of Family Owned Businesses Political Action Committee has already spent the money on negative mailers against Holden, The Bee reported.

Holden is currently running for the Fifth District seat on the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors in the upcoming election to replace Kathryn Barger.

The wage increase for fast food employees set to take effect in April was signed into law last year by Gov. Gavin Newsom after being approved by state lawmakers.

McDonald’s, Chipotle, and Pizza Hut franchisees in California have warned the higher pay mandates will force them to raise menu prices, cut staff hours, and eliminate jobs to cope with higher labor costs.

In a statement to The Sacramento Bee, Kerri Harper-Howie, a McDonald’s franchise owner in Los Angeles, said “Politicians should know that if they agree to carry water for those who threaten our businesses, they will be opposed.”

Union leaders accused the corporate Political Action Committee of launching “shameful” political attacks as retribution.

Holden’s campaign called the ads an attempt to “mislead voters about his record of standing up for working families.”