California Sheriff Running for Governor Pauses Special Election Probe

Chad Bianco faces legal challenges from state attorney general over ballot seizure investigation.

Mar. 31, 2026 at 3:33pm

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A solitary ballot box sits on a table in a dimly lit government office, the warm light casting deep shadows and creating a sense of quiet contemplation around the object.The investigation into alleged election fraud in Riverside County has cast a long shadow over public confidence in California's electoral system.Riverside Today

Sheriff Chad Bianco (R), a Republican candidate for California governor, has paused his investigation into alleged election fraud in Riverside County after facing mounting legal challenges, including from state Attorney General Rob Bonta (D). Bianco had seized over 650,000 ballots cast in a recent special election, but county officials and the UCLA Voting Rights Project say the probe is unlawful and damaging to public confidence in the electoral system.

Why it matters

The investigation by the sheriff-turned-gubernatorial candidate has raised concerns about the integrity of California's elections and the potential for political interference in the democratic process. As a high-profile Republican figure, Bianco's actions could set a precedent for other officials to challenge election results without clear evidence of wrongdoing.

The details

Bianco told The Los Angeles Times that his investigation was put 'on hold … because of the politically motivated lawsuits and court filings.' The sheriff's employees had seized more than 650,000 ballots cast in Riverside County during November's special election on redistricting. Bianco has argued the probe is legal and was approved by a Riverside County judge, but county elections officials and the state attorney general have rejected his claims of significant voter fraud.

  • On February, Bianco initially seized 1,000 boxes of election materials to investigate a local citizens group's complaint.
  • On Monday, March 31, 2026, Bianco paused his investigation into alleged election fraud.
  • The Board of Supervisors previously determined that the citizens group's complaint was unfounded.

The players

Chad Bianco

A Republican sheriff in Riverside, California who is running for governor and launched an investigation into alleged election fraud in his county.

Rob Bonta

The Democratic Attorney General of California who has filed legal challenges against Bianco's election probe.

Art Tinoco

The Riverside County Board of Supervisors registrar of voters who has disputed Bianco's claims of significant voter fraud.

Sonni Waknin

A senior voting rights attorney with the UCLA Voting Rights Project, which has filed a petition challenging Bianco's ballot seizure.

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What they’re saying

“The investigation simply sought to determine the validity of the allegations of possible election fraud, the exact same way every investigation is conducted. We are counting ballots, not yes or no votes.”

— Chad Bianco, Sheriff

“Every day that Bianco is permitted to handle election materials, outside the view of the public and in violation of law, California voters suffer irreparable harm.”

— Sonni Waknin, Senior Voting Rights Attorney, UCLA Voting Rights Project

What’s next

The Riverside County Superior Court will likely rule on the legal challenges to Bianco's ballot seizure investigation in the coming weeks.

The takeaway

This case highlights the growing tensions between election officials, law enforcement, and political actors over the integrity of California's electoral process. As a gubernatorial candidate, Bianco's actions raise concerns about the potential for abuse of power and the undermining of public trust in elections.