Rusty Hicks, the chairman of the California Democratic Party, on Tuesday criticized presidential candidates Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D., Mass.) and Joe Biden for skipping the state's upcoming nominating convention.
Hicks took to his official Facebook page to skewer Warren and the former vice president for making the "misguided" and "disappointing" decision to pass on the event, Politico reported.
"Your decision is a blatant disregard and disrespect to California’s grassroots leaders who make the phone calls, knock the doors, and give the money.... in swing districts and swing states alike.... year after year after years," Hicks wrote. "It’s clear you don’t think you need us to win the Primary. But, you *just might* need us in the General. Just sayin[g]."
Hicks went on to say the two Democratic frontrunners need to show California Democrats they "value the contributions of California’s hardworking Democrats."
Warren is the second Democratic presidential candidate to announce she will not be attending the convention in Long Beach on Nov. 15. Biden's campaign announced in October that he is unable to make the convention because he already made plans to be in Washington state on the first day of the convention.
This is not the first time Biden has skipped out on major party events in the Golden State. He missed a California party convention in June, as well as a Democratic National Committee meeting in August. Both events were held in San Francisco.
Warren attended both of the summer events in California. She is scheduled to open a campaign office in Oakland over the weekend and another office in Los Angeles later this month, according to Mercury News.
Recent California polls show Warren leading the Democratic primary. The RealClearPolitics Average for California has Warren receiving 24.5 percent support followed by Biden at 23.5 percent and Sanders at 20.3 percent.