Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco Seizes Over Half a Million Ballots From County Election Officials

Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, a Republican gubernatorial candidate, has seized more than half a million ballots from county election officials.

“California sheriff running for governor seizes more than a half million ballots from 2025 election RIVERSIDE, Calif”

Associated Press News

The ballots were taken from the November 2025 special election focused on redistricting.

Associated Press News

Voters in that election approved a measure to redraw congressional district lines to favor Democrats in the upcoming midterm election.

Bianco obtained a warrant in February 2026 and seized approximately 1,000 boxes containing ballots and election materials.

He claims to be investigating a discrepancy reported by the Riverside Election Integrity Team.

The citizen group alleged that election workers' tally of ballots received was 45,000 fewer than the number of votes certified to the state.

The investigation has drawn sharp criticism from California's top election officials who dispute the legitimacy of Bianco's claims.

County elections officials have repeatedly refuted the allegations, explaining that the initial intake logs by polling workers are meant to be estimates rather than exact tallies.

California Post

They stated that the final count was within 0.16%, or 103 votes, of the original estimate.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta, a Democrat, has condemned the move as unprecedented.

Bonta stated it is 'designed to sow distrust in elections' and questioned the accuracy and completeness of affidavits submitted to obtain the search warrant.

Secretary of State Shirley Weber has argued that Bianco 'has no authority to carry out a recount'.

The ballot seizure has significant political implications as Bianco campaigns for governor in a crowded June primary.

“Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters California sheriff seizes 650,000 ballots in defiance of state officials over election count dispute By Anders Hagstrom, Fox News Published March 22, 2026, 2:22 p”

California Post

The sheriff insisted his investigation had 'absolutely nothing to do' with his gubernatorial bid.

He called it 'a fact-finding mission' to 'physically count the ballots and compare that result with the total votes reported.'

Critics argue the action raises serious concerns about his commitment to democratic norms and the integrity of elections.

Bianco is one of two prominent Republicans running for governor in a primary that includes more than half a dozen Democrats.

California Democrats worry that their crowded field could split the vote and send both Bianco and fellow Republican Steve Hilton to the November general election.

The incident reflects broader national concerns about election security and the erosion of trust in democratic processes.

There are parallels to actions taken by the Trump administration in other states.

East Bay Times

Election security expert Gowri Ramachandran from the Brennan Center for Justice noted that Bianco's seizure resembled FBI raids in Georgia and Arizona.

She warned that 'the real danger is if this becomes some kind of norm or some kind of trend.'

UCLA law professor Richard L. Hasen told 'Fresh Air' host Terry Gross that the FBI raids previewed how the Trump administration could go about seizing ballots in future elections.

Bianco's counting procedures, which had previously started and paused, will now continue under court-appointed special master oversight.