California Sheriff Seizes 650,000 Ballots in Election Dispute

Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco launches investigation into November 2025 special election results

Mar. 22, 2026 at 6:22pm

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Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, a Republican gubernatorial candidate, has seized over 650,000 ballots from the November 2025 special election in California. Bianco claims a third-party organization found 45,000 excess votes and is launching his own recount, despite state officials arguing he lacks the authority to do so.

Why it matters

This case highlights the ongoing tensions between Republican and Democratic officials over election integrity and the balance of power in California. It raises questions about the role of law enforcement in election processes and the potential for political motivations to influence investigations into voting procedures.

The details

Bianco launched the investigation after the Riverside Election Integrity Team, a third-party organization, claimed to have found around 45,000 excess votes in the November 2025 special election on Proposition 50. The proposition was designed to favor Democrats in redrawing congressional districts. California Secretary of State Shirley Weber and Riverside elections official Art Tinoco have dismissed the team's findings, arguing the initial vote tallies were estimates rather than exact counts. However, Bianco insists his office will physically recount the ballots.

  • Bianco launched the investigation into the November 2025 special election on Proposition 50.
  • Earlier this year, Tinoco told county supervisors the final vote tally was within 0.16%, or 103 votes, of the original estimate.

The players

Chad Bianco

The Riverside County Sheriff and a Republican candidate for California governor.

Shirley Weber

The California Secretary of State, who has argued that Bianco lacks the authority to conduct a recount.

Art Tinoco

A Riverside elections official who rejected the findings of the Riverside Election Integrity Team, stating that the initial vote tallies were estimates rather than exact counts.

Bob Bonta

The California Attorney General, who Bianco has accused of intervening in the investigation.

Eric Swalwell

A Democratic U.S. Representative from California who is also running for California governor and has clashed with Bianco on social media.

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What they’re saying

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

— Chad Bianco, Riverside County Sheriff

“The Riverside County Sheriff's Office has taken actions based on allegations that lack credible evidence and risk undermining public confidence in our elections. The sheriff's assertion that his deputies know how to count is admirable. The fact remains that he and his deputies are not elections officials, and they do not have expertise in election administration.”

— Shirley Weber, California Secretary of State

“The outrage that an investigation was happening was extremely concerning to me, especially coming from someone who claims to be a law enforcement officer that is, I've said this a minimum of a thousand times, he's an embarrassment to law enforcement.”

— Chad Bianco, Riverside County Sheriff

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Bianco to continue the recount of the ballots.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing partisan battles over election integrity in California, with Republican officials like Bianco challenging the findings of state elections officials. It raises concerns about the potential for law enforcement to overstep their authority and undermine public trust in the electoral process.