California Sheriff Running for Governor Seizes More Than a Half Million Ballots From 2025 Election

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: U.S. News & World Report/AP

March 22, 2026, at 1:29 p.m.


RIVERSIDE, Calif. (AP) — A California sheriff running for governor has seized more than half a million ballots cast in a November special election from county election officials, saying he's investigating a ballot count discrepancy. County elections officials have disputed the claims by Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, a Republican. California Attorney General Rob Bonta, a Democrat, called Bianco's move unprecedented and says it is designed to sow distrust in elections.

Bianco held a news conference Friday saying his office had launched the investigation after receiving a complaint from a local citizens group about the ballot count from a November 2025 special election on redistricting.In the special election, voters approved a measure to redraw congressional district lines to favor Democrats in the upcoming midterm election. The measure passed in the county by a margin of more than 80,000 votes.

Bianco seized ballots in Riverside County, the inland California county of 2.5 million people where he has twice been elected sheriff. He called the effort "a fact-finding mission."“This investigation is simple: Physically count the ballots and compare that result with the total votes reported,” he said Friday.

Bianco is one of two prominent Republicans running for governor in a crowded June primary that includes more than half a dozen Democrats. California runs a top-two primary system that puts all candidates on the same ballot, regardless of party, and sends the two candidates who get the most voters onto the November general election.

Read more: https://www.usnews.com/news/us/articles/2026-03-22/california-sheriff-running-for-governor-seizes-more-than-a-half-million-ballots-from-2025-election

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California runs a top-two primary system that puts all candidates on the same ballot, regardless of party, and sends the two candidates who get the most voters onto the November general election.

Otherwise dubbed a "jungle primary" IIRC.

[Walleye]

1. We have never lacked "election integrity" or confidence in our elections. This is such bullshit.

I’m sure we all remember the election of 2000 and how meticulous the counting was there and Gore accepted the results, even though there was only 500 votes difference and the candidates brother was governor of the state he needed. Anybody remember the election of 1960? they cried foul because Kennedy won. In the 20th century, we never had the electoral vote and the popular vote disagree. That didn’t happen until 2000. there was always the fear that the results wouldn’t be accepted with the discrepancy. Our elections used to be a point of pride with the rest of the world. Banana republics have riots on election day, not the United States.

[odins folly]

6. The ONLY lack of faith in our elections

Come from the republican lies. The sheep who follow right wing television and news are fed that constant propaganda and bs pushed out to create that distrust. Since regan and fox, they have been fed a constant diet of the real Americans and the bs silent majority horseshit. By telling them that the reasons for loss MUST be cheating, they continue that lie. I remember Obama and Biden election results and how everyone of them would do interviews and say that “how could he have won, I don’t know anybody who voted for him” well, no shit you live in a bubble..

[Fiendish Thingy]

2. Bianco better be headed to jail

I hope the California AG convenes a Grand Jury on Monday.

Did Bianco get a warrant? Did the Riverside head of elections just give the ballots to Bianco?

[oldmanlynn]

5. I agree with that

We cannot let these people continue to get away with this kind of stuff without repercussions. If the Democrats don’t push for the guy to be incarcerated or penalized, then they never changed.

[bluestarone]

11. Something he could be pardoned for?

I'm hoping NOT, but i'm thinking YES.

[Fiendish Thingy]

14. Not if he's prosecuted under CA state law.

No presidential pardon for state crimes.

[bluestarone]

15. What would be the charge?

[Fiendish Thingy]

20. Ask the AG

If you or I seized ballots, we’d be in jail.

Here’s an example :

https://law.justia.com/codes/california/code-elec/division-18/chapter-6/article-4/section-18568/

2025 California Code
Elections Code - ELEC
DIVISION 18 - PENAL PROVISIONS
CHAPTER 6 - Corruption of the Voting Process
ARTICLE 4 - Corruption of Voting
Section 18568.
Universal Citation:
CA Elec Code § 18568 (2025)
Learn more
This media-neutral citation is based on the American Association of Law Libraries Universal Citation Guide and is not necessarily the official citation.
Previous
Next
18568. Every person is punishable by a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000), or by imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170 of the Penal Code for 16 months or two or three years, or by both that fine and imprisonment, who:

(a) Aids in changing or destroying any poll list or official ballot.

(b) Aids in wrongfully placing any ballots in the ballot container or in taking any therefrom.

(c) Adds or attempts to add any ballots to those legally polled at any election by fraudulently putting them into the ballot container, either before or after the ballots therein have been counted.

(d) Adds to or mixes with, or attempts to add to or mix with, the ballots polled, any other ballots, while they are being counted or canvassed or at any other time, with intent to change the result of the election, or allows another to do so, when in the person’s power to prevent it.

(e) Carries away or destroys, attempts to carry away or destroy, or knowingly allows another to carry away or destroy, any poll list, ballot container, or ballots lawfully polled or who willfully detains, mutilates, or destroys any election returns.

(f) Removes any unvoted ballots from the polling place before the completion of the ballot count.

(g) Displays a container or provides an envelope for the purpose of collecting or returning ballots, with the intent to deceive a voter into casting a ballot in an unofficial ballot or returning a ballot in an unofficial ballot return envelope. Evidence of intent to deceive may include using the word “official” on the container or envelope, or otherwise fashioning the container or envelope in a way that is likely to deceive a voter into believing that the container or envelope is an official collection box or official ballot return envelope that has been approved by an elections official.

(h) Directs or solicits a voter to place a ballot in a container or envelope prohibited by subdivision (g).

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

3. Another Banana Republican

[bluestarone]

4. How in the fuck does a sheriff have this type of authority?

[WestMichRad]

7. He doesn't have the authority.

And once the ballots are “seized” and no longer controlled by election officials, any data that might be gained from them is suspect and unofficial.

[riversedge]

8. ........Bianco seized ballots in Riverside County, the inland California county of 2.5 million people where he has twice

I am guessing but it seems the only way he was able to do this is because he is the Sheriff. I doubt other folks running would be able to do this--or have the authority to seize ballots.
!!!


............Bianco seized ballots in Riverside County, the inland California county of 2.5 million people where he has twice been elected sheriff. He called the effort “a fact-finding mission.”

“This investigation is simple: Physically count the ballots and compare that result with the total votes reported,” he said Friday.

[bluestarone]

9. So, someone tell me what if this happens during

This Novembers election? Who can stop this from happening during an election in progress? (which is something i could see happening)

[riversedge]

10. A former Oath Keeper wants to be governor of the most populous state, California. Chad Bianco aligned himself with a ha

A former Oath Keeper wants to be governor of the most populous state, California.

Chad Bianco aligned himself with a hate group. That’s not just bad judgment, it’s who he is. He doesn’t belong anywhere near the governor’s office.
https://abc7.com/amp/post/river

Link to tweet

?s=20

[riversedge]

12. Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco accuses attorney general of interfering in election probe

This dispute has been going on since last NOV!!


Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco accuses attorney general of interfering in election probe

Bianco, who is running for governor, defends investigation into ballots tallied in Proposition 50 election

https://www.pressenterprise.com/2026/03/20/riverside-county-sheriff-chad-bianco-accuses-attorney-general-of-interfering-in-election-probe/

By Jeff Horseman UPDATED: March 20, 2026 at 5:14 PM PDT

..................


“Sheriff Bianco’s investigation is unprecedented in both scope and scale and appears not to be based on facts or evidence but on unfounded allegations that have already been refuted by the Riverside Registrar of Voters,” Bonta said in the statement.

.................


California Attorney General Rob Bonta, seen Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025, said there are serious issues with a Riverside County Sheriff’s Department investigation into ballots cast in Riverside County for the Proposition 50 special election in November 2025. (Mark Schiefelbein, AP file photo)

“During this time, the sheriff has delayed, stonewalled, and otherwise refused to work with us in good faith. To date, the sheriff has failed to provide most of the requested documentation.”

Bonta added: “What we have been able to learn raises serious questions about the merits of this investigation. We are especially concerned with legal deficiencies in the affidavits underlying the warrants, including the omission of material facts.”................

[bluestarone]

13. Is this a preview of

November 2026?

[Buddyzbuddy]

16. Our State AG should be all over this if he isn't already.

Maybe they don't want to call attention to it because then they can make it a false issue for the Governor's race?

[Nigrum Cattus]

17. He is a hard core right wing religious extremist

he made a video last year, in uniform, in a cruiser
stating that he would vote for tsf. He has followed
up this year with a video stating that the U.S. is
a "christian nation"

[wolfie001]

18. Someone above said he was an oath keeper

If that's the case, then he's a white racist POS.

[FakeNoose]

19. I think he's just disqualified himself from office

What do you say, governor Newsom?

[Figarosmom]

21. I wonder how many ballots will be lost?

[2naSalit]

22. Oh THAT...

Will surely get him elected!

[hay rick]

23. This breaks the chain of verified custody that would allow any credible recount.

Guy belongs in jail. See post 20 in this thread citing CA Election Code 18568(e).

[mdbl]

24. Exactly. Nothing there to keep him from lying about the results.