California Sheriff Seizes Ballots, Sparking Criticism

Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, a Republican gubernatorial candidate, took possession of over 650,000 ballots, citing unsubstantiated fraud claims.

Mar. 23, 2026 at 9:03am

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Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, a Republican candidate for California governor, recently seized more than 650,000 ballots cast in a 2025 statewide election, prompting criticism from the state's top election official who said the sheriff's concerns about fraud 'lack credible evidence'. Bianco's investigation involves ballots cast in the 2025 special election over Proposition 50, which asked voters whether they wanted to allow Democrats to redraw the state's congressional districts.

Why it matters

Bianco's actions are similar to efforts by the Trump administration and its allies to discredit previous elections, which election experts say could be used as a justification for attempts to change the way future elections are conducted. The probe has raised alarm among election officials about future election interference and accusations in both parties that Bianco is trying to enhance his standing with the party base and former President Trump.

The details

Bianco, a supporter of former President Trump, said he was investigating allegations by an election activist group that vote tallies did not match the number of ballots received. However, state and local election officials have described the investigation and Bianco's justification for seizing the ballots as baseless. Democrats and Republicans in the state have also said they believe that politics was a motivating factor in the probe.

  • On Friday, Bianco said he was investigating allegations of voter fraud.
  • On Sunday, Bianco's office confirmed the ballot seizure and investigation.

The players

Chad Bianco

The Republican sheriff of Riverside County, California, who is running for governor and recently seized more than 650,000 ballots as part of a fraud probe.

Shirley Weber

The Democratic secretary of state of California, who denounced Bianco's investigation and said the claims made by Bianco were not backed by evidence.

Rob Bonta

The Democratic attorney general of California, who issued a stern rebuke of Bianco's investigation, saying the office had 'serious concerns' about the underlying evidence and that Bianco was 'flagrantly violating my directives'.

Riverside Election Integrity Team

A group that alleged its examination of records found about 45,000 more ballots had been counted than were documented as having been received, which prompted Bianco's investigation.

Jeff Van Wagenen

The Riverside County Executive Officer, who said county election staff follow detailed procedures established by state and federal law to protect the integrity of the vote and ensure every eligible ballot is processed and counted.

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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

“The Riverside County Sheriff's Office has taken actions based on allegations that lack credible evidence and risk undermining public confidence in our elections.”

— Shirley Weber, California Secretary of State

“Let me be clear: this is unacceptable. Your decision to seize ballots and begin counting them based on vague, unsubstantiated allegations about irregularities in the November special election results sets a dangerous precedent and will only sow distrust in our elections.”

— Rob Bonta, California Attorney General

What’s next

A judge approved the warrant for Bianco to seize the ballots, so the outcome of the probe is unlikely to have any impact on the result of the Proposition 50 vote, given the wide margin. However, the investigation has raised concerns about potential future election interference and accusations that Bianco is trying to boost his standing with the Republican base and former President Trump ahead of the gubernatorial election.

The takeaway

This case highlights the growing trend of elected officials, particularly those aligned with the Republican party, making unsubstantiated claims of voter fraud and taking actions that risk undermining public confidence in the electoral process. It underscores the need for election investigations to be conducted by those with the appropriate legal authority and subject matter expertise, rather than by partisan actors seeking political gain.