California Sheriff Seizes More Ballots, Defying State Attorney General

Riverside County sheriff's investigation into unsubstantiated election fraud claims draws rebuke from state officials

Mar. 26, 2026 at 11:05pm

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A Republican sheriff in California who is running for governor has escalated his investigation into unsubstantiated claims of irregularities in a 2025 statewide election, seizing a second tranche of election materials despite being ordered by the state attorney general to halt the probe. The sheriff's actions have drawn sharp criticism from California's top law enforcement and election officials, who say the investigation threatens to undermine public confidence in the state's elections.

Why it matters

The sheriff's investigation, which has not identified any crimes, could create further doubt about the security of California elections and set a dangerous precedent that could invite future attempts to improperly contest election results through the misuse of law enforcement authority. This is particularly concerning given the sheriff's position as a candidate for governor in a heavily Democratic state where a split vote could open the door for Republicans.

The details

Chad Bianco, the sheriff of Riverside County, seized 426 boxes of ballot materials on Tuesday, adding to the even larger tranche of 650,000 cast ballots he took last month. This came despite a directive from California Attorney General Rob Bonta, a Democrat, to pause the investigation and provide copies of filings in the case. Bianco has criticized Bonta and said a court order allowed the investigation to include a recount of the ballots, which would be overseen by a special master. However, Bonta's office said the court order did not authorize a recount or a special master.

  • On Tuesday, March 25, 2026, Sheriff Bianco seized 426 boxes of ballot materials.
  • In February 2026, Sheriff Bianco seized 650,000 cast ballots.

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 petitioned the court to halt Bianco's investigation.

Riverside Election Integrity Team

An outside group of activists who claimed to have found more ballots were counted than the number of votes cast, a claim that was later debunked by local election officials.

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What they’re saying

“The Sheriff's misguided investigation threatens to sow distrust and jeopardize public confidence in the upcoming primary and general elections, not just in Riverside County but around the State.”

— Rob Bonta, California Attorney General

“Our focus remains where it belongs: supporting public confidence in the election process and ensuring the Registrar of Voters is fully prepared to administer the upcoming June 2 primary election.”

— Jeff Van Wagenen, Executive Officer of Riverside County

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide whether to allow Sheriff Bianco's investigation to continue, including any potential recount of the ballots.

The takeaway

This case highlights the growing concerns about the use of law enforcement authority to investigate unsubstantiated claims of election fraud, which could undermine public trust in the electoral process and set a dangerous precedent for future attempts to contest election results.