Kevin McCarthy headlines Fresno GOP fundraiser dinner honoring Lincoln, Reagan, Trump

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy will be the keynote speaker Monday at the Fresno GOP annual Lincoln-Reagan-Trump dinner.

Rep. Tom McClintock, R-Elk Grove, and state Sen. Shannon Grove, R-Bakersfield, also will be special guests and speakers.

Money raised from the annual event will help boost the local Republican party’s field program, data team, and voter registration efforts across the county, according to event emails. The local party said it’s working to restore strong conservative leadership to local governing bodies such as school boards and city councils, in addition to high-profile races.

The fundraiser is a private event and closed to the media, Fred Vanderhoof, chair of the Fresno County Republican Party, told The Bee.

Traditionally, the event was called the Lincoln-Reagan dinner. This is the second year former President Donald Trump has been added to the name.

“Most Republicans around the country feel he’s been one of the most successful presidents we’ve had since Reagan and accomplished a lot in his four years,” Vanderhoof said.

This year, the event is honoring Trump as defendants are on trial for the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection. The latest defendant on trial blamed his actions on Trump and the former president’s false claims the 2020 election was stolen. So far, Trump has not been called to testify, but some of his top aides have been interviewed by the congressional committee investigating insurrection.