According to him New York PostErnby fell ill shortly after speaking at a political rally on December 4. There he told the attendees that “there is nothing more important than our freedoms at this time ”.
County Republicans Orange, where Ernby had previously served as the district’s president of operations, said her death had caused them “great sadness.”
According to the group, Ernby died after suffering a “brief illness.”
The Orange County district attorney’s office released a statement honoring Ernby.
“The Orange County district attorney’s office is completely heartbroken by the sudden and unexpected death from Assistant District Attorney Kelly Ernby, ”District Attorney Todd Spitzer said in a statement. “Kelly was an incredibly bright and passionate attorney who cared deeply for the work we do as prosecutors and deeply for the community we all fight so hard to protect.”
Jon Fleischman, a former executive director of the California Republican Party, said Ernby was “fun and generous” and that she had become “part of the fabric of our party.”
Ernby told Fleischman that he had been diagnosed with covid shortly before his death. He also indicated his intention to run for State Assembly in the newly created District 72.
In 2020, Ernby ran for the District 74 seat, which includes Irvine and Huntington Beach, although he was ultimately unsuccessful.