California Sheriff Seizes 500K Ballots in Redistricting Probe

Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco says investigation has nothing to do with his gubernatorial campaign.

Mar. 22, 2026 at 11:30pm

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Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, a Republican running for governor, has seized more than 500,000 ballots cast in a November 2025 special election on California redistricting. Bianco claims there was a discrepancy in the ballot count, but California's Democratic Attorney General Rob Bonta has called the sheriff's move "unprecedented" and designed to "sow distrust in elections."

Why it matters

This case highlights growing tensions around election integrity and the potential for abuse of power by local officials, especially those running for higher office. The seizure of ballots could undermine public trust in the electoral process and set a dangerous precedent for future elections.

The details

Bianco said his office launched an investigation after receiving a complaint from a citizens group about the ballot count from the November 2025 special election, in which voters approved a measure to redraw congressional district lines to favor Democrats. Bianco has seized the ballots in Riverside County, which has a population of 2.5 million people. The attorney general has sent multiple letters saying Bianco's staff is not qualified to conduct a recount, but Bianco says the count has started and will resume under a special master.

  • The special election on redistricting was held in November 2025.
  • Bianco seized the ballots on March 22, 2026.

The players

Chad Bianco

The Republican sheriff of Riverside County, California, who is running for governor.

Rob Bonta

The Democratic Attorney General of California, who has called Bianco's move "unprecedented" and designed to "sow distrust in elections."

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What they’re saying

“This investigation is simple: Physically count the ballots and compare that result with the total votes reported.”

— Chad Bianco, Riverside County Sheriff

“This move is unprecedented and designed to sow distrust in elections.”

— Rob Bonta, California Attorney General

What’s next

A judge has appointed a special master to oversee the recount of the ballots seized by Sheriff Bianco.

The takeaway

This case highlights the delicate balance between election integrity and the potential for abuse of power by local officials, especially those running for higher office. It underscores the need for robust safeguards and nonpartisan oversight to ensure the fairness and transparency of the electoral process.