Riverside Sheriff Seizes Ballots, Alleging Election Fraud

California officials say the ballot seizure is illegal and undermines voter confidence

Apr. 6, 2026 at 9:09am

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Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, a Republican gubernatorial candidate, has seized more than 60,000 ballots from the 2025 election, claiming there were irregularities that need to be investigated. California officials have gone to court to stop the seizure, arguing it is illegal and an attempt to undermine confidence in the electoral process.

Why it matters

The battle over the ballot seizure in Riverside County could have broader implications for election integrity and public trust in the voting system, especially as the 2026 midterm elections approach. Bianco's actions echo similar efforts by former President Trump and his allies to question the results of past elections, raising concerns about a potential constitutional crisis.

The details

Sheriff Bianco claims a conservative elections group found a 45,000-vote discrepancy between what was cast and what was tallied in the 2025 election. He obtained a court order to seize all the ballots in Riverside County to conduct his own recount. However, the California Attorney General's Office and Secretary of State have gone to court to stop the seizure, arguing Bianco has no legal authority to do so and that the election results have already been certified. They say Bianco is making unsubstantiated claims of fraud to undermine confidence in the electoral system.

  • In November 2025, California voters overwhelmingly approved Prop 50, giving Democrats the ability to redraw district maps.
  • In early 2026, a conservative elections group claimed to find a 45,000-vote discrepancy in the 2025 Riverside County election results.
  • In March 2026, Sheriff Bianco obtained a court order to seize more than 60,000 ballots from the 2025 election.
  • In early April 2026, California officials went to court to stop Bianco's ballot seizure, arguing it is illegal.

The players

Chad Bianco

The Republican sheriff of Riverside County, California, who is running for governor and has made unsubstantiated claims of election fraud.

Rob Bonta

The Democratic Attorney General of California, who is fighting Bianco's ballot seizure in court.

Xavier Becerra

A Democratic gubernatorial candidate in California who has criticized Bianco's actions as a political stunt.

Riverside Election Integrity Group

A conservative elections group that claimed to find a 45,000-vote discrepancy in the 2025 Riverside County election results.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to undermine public trust in our elections.”

— Rob Bonta, California Attorney General

“This is a political stunt, not a genuine effort to address any real issues with the election.”

— Xavier Becerra, Democratic Gubernatorial Candidate

What’s next

The California Superior Court judge overseeing the case has put a hold on the ballot seizure until the state Supreme Court decides how to proceed.

The takeaway

The battle over the ballot seizure in Riverside County highlights the ongoing tensions around election integrity and the potential for political actors to undermine public trust in the electoral process, even when there is no evidence of widespread fraud. This case could have significant implications for the 2026 midterm elections and beyond.