Calif. Sheriff Investigates ‘Massive’ Ballot Discrepancy In Special Election
Riverside, California - June 9, 2026
Riverside County Sheriff Launches Investigation into 45,800-Ballot Discrepancy in Special Election
Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco has opened a formal investigation into a significant discrepancy between machine-counted ballots and handwritten logs from last year’s special election. Voting machines recorded more than 657,000 ballots cast, while handwritten logs maintained by poll workers and election staff reflected just over 611,000 votes — a difference of roughly 45,800 ballots.
Bianco said the goal of the investigation is to determine whether the discrepancy resulted from human error or a more serious issue. He emphasized that the scale of the difference is substantial.
“We’re not talking about ten, we’re not even talking about a thousand,” Bianco said. “We’re talking about the difference between having a perfect count and a 45,800 vote difference. That’s massive.”
As part of the probe, sheriff’s deputies executed search warrants at the Riverside County Registrar of Voters office and seized multiple boxes of ballots from the 2025 special election. A superior court judge has authorized the appointment of a special master to oversee a full review and recount of the ballots under court supervision.
Riverside County Registrar of Voters Art Tinoco has suggested the discrepancy may stem from imprecise handwritten documentation completed by temporary employees working at polling sites, rather than issues with the ballots themselves.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta, a Democrat, sharply criticized the investigation, calling it unprecedented in scope and scale and appearing to be based on unfounded allegations already refuted by the registrar. Bonta expressed concern over the seizure of ballot materials and said his office had communicated those concerns to Bianco in prior letters.
Bianco confirmed receiving the letters and stated he was troubled by what he described as resistance to the investigation.
“The outrage that an investigation was happening was extremely concerning to me,” Bianco said.
Bianco, a Republican who is running for California governor, said the purpose of the investigation is to prove the election’s accuracy or to identify problems. The review remains ongoing under court supervision, with no announced timeline for completion.
California Election Scandal Blows Wide Open - Trump Is DEMANDING Answers
Los Angeles, California - June 8, 2026
Empty Workstations and Massive Backlog at Los Angeles Ballot Facility Draw Justice Department Scrutiny
A visit to Los Angeles County’s 144,000-square-foot ballot processing facility revealed dozens of vacant workstations and lightly staffed sections despite a backlog of more than 713,180 unprocessed ballots from the June 2 primary. Only 77,521 additional ballots have been processed since election night, according to county officials.
Reporters observed multiple rows of empty chairs and sections where no workers were present at desks. In one area dedicated to reviewing ballots that scanners could not automatically process, approximately 25 bins sat ready for review while nearby desks remained unoccupied. In another section where envelopes are opened and ballots prepared for counting, roughly 75 employees were working in a space capable of holding more than twice that number.
Los Angeles County spends nearly $336 million annually on its Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk’s office, which has more than 1,100 budgeted positions. The visible understaffing has intensified questions about the county’s capacity to process ballots efficiently.
The slow pace of counting has drawn sharp criticism from President Donald Trump, who has demanded answers and stated that the Department of Justice is now involved in examining the state’s election processes. Trump has repeatedly highlighted how races in California, including the Los Angeles mayoral contest and the governor’s race, remain unresolved more than a week after Election Day due to extended mail-in ballot deadlines and prolonged counting.
In the Los Angeles mayoral race, Republican Spencer Pratt saw his substantial early lead over Nithya Raman shrink significantly amid late ballot drops. In the governor’s race, Democrat Xavier Becerra has advanced while Republican Steve Hilton remains in contention for the second spot.
Critics argue that the combination of universal mail-in voting, extended receipt windows, and slow processing creates opportunities for manipulation and erodes public confidence. The involvement of federal authorities signals that concerns about transparency and potential irregularities in California’s election administration are now receiving national-level attention.
BREAKING: Winner of California Governor Race Announced This is INSANE
Los Angeles, California - June 8, 2026
Xavier Becerra Advances to November as Steve Hilton Remains in Contention for Second Spot in California Governor’s Race
Former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra has secured a place in California’s November gubernatorial election after CNN’s Decision Desk projected him as the top vote-getter in the June 2 primary. Becerra’s advancement guarantees Democrats a nominee on the general election ballot under the state’s top-two primary system.
The result provided relief for California Democrats concerned that a crowded field could allow two Republicans to advance. Becerra, a former congressman, California attorney general, and Biden cabinet secretary, centered his campaign on government experience and leadership during crises.
The race for the second runoff spot remains unresolved. Republican Steve Hilton, the Trump-backed former Fox News host, continues to compete alongside Democratic billionaire activist Tom Steyer. Election officials have not yet projected a winner for second place, though Becerra has steadily expanded his lead.
California remains heavily Democratic, with approximately 4.6 million more registered Democrats than Republicans. The last Republican elected governor was Arnold Schwarzenegger two decades ago. If Hilton secures the second spot, he would face a challenging general election in the deep-blue state.
The Democratic primary was marked by several high-profile withdrawals and collapses. Former Vice President Kamala Harris and U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla declined to run. Former Rep. Katie Porter’s campaign faltered after controversial videos surfaced, and then-Rep. Eric Swalwell withdrew amid reports of alleged sexual misconduct, which he denied.
Becerra’s record faced attacks during the campaign, including criticism over the child migrant crisis response, the federal handling of the mpox outbreak, and fallout from a former chief of staff’s guilty plea in a campaign funds fraud case. Supporters argued many attacks were politically motivated and that Becerra inherited difficult situations.
Separately, the Los Angeles mayoral race also remains fluid. Incumbent Democrat Karen Bass has secured a November spot, while Republican reality television personality Spencer Pratt holds second place, though City Councilwoman Nithya Raman continues to gain ground with additional ballots.
Becerra expressed optimism about advancing, stating he is “humbled and honored” to move forward to the general election.
WATCH IT: Trump Shreds 'Fake News' Kristen Welker, Storms Out of Interview
Washington, D.C. - June 8, 2026
President Trump Abruptly Ends Interview with NBC’s Kristen Welker Over California Election Counting Criticism
President Donald Trump walked out of an interview with NBC’s Meet the Press host Kristen Welker after expressing strong frustration with California’s prolonged ballot counting process and what he described as inadequate media coverage of major shifts in vote totals days after the June 2 primary.
The exchange grew heated when the discussion turned to races in California that remained unresolved more than a week after Election Day. Trump highlighted the slow pace of counting and significant swings in results caused by late mail-in ballot drops, including in the Los Angeles mayoral race where Republican Spencer Pratt saw his substantial early lead over leftist candidate Nithya Raman shrink dramatically.
According to reports, Pratt held a lead of more than 40,000 votes on election night but saw it reduced to approximately 7,400 votes amid subsequent ballot drops, with additional ballots still expected. Trump criticized the process as resembling that of a third-world country and accused the press of failing to properly scrutinize why such large shifts consistently appeared to benefit Democratic candidates.
Welker responded by stating that the extended counting timeline is simply how votes are tallied in California. Trump rejected the explanation and expressed exhaustion with the line of questioning.
“So let’s call it quits because I’ve had enough. Thank you, darling, have a good time,” Trump said before ending the interview.
The confrontation comes as federal authorities, including U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California Bill Essayli, continue examining potential irregularities in the state’s election system. Trump has repeatedly called for greater scrutiny of California’s universal mail-in practices, extended ballot receipt deadlines, and lengthy counting periods, arguing that they undermine public confidence and create opportunities for abuse.
The incident underscores ongoing tensions between the Trump administration and segments of the national media over coverage of election administration issues, particularly in Democrat-controlled states with extended voting and counting timelines. Trump has long maintained that basic reforms such as voter ID requirements and stricter chain-of-custody rules for mail ballots are essential to restoring trust in the electoral process.
Los Angeles Mayor Race Officially Called — NEW Winner Announced
Los Angeles, California - June 8, 2026
Late Mail-In Ballot Surge Propels Nithya Raman Past Spencer Pratt in Los Angeles Mayoral Primary
Republican candidate Spencer Pratt appeared headed for a strong second-place finish in the Los Angeles mayoral primary immediately after polls closed on June 2, positioning him to advance to the November runoff under California’s top-two system. However, subsequent batches of late mail-in ballots shifted the outcome, allowing leftist candidate Nithya Raman to overtake him and secure second place behind incumbent Democrat Karen Bass.
In one notable late mail drop, Raman received 19,096 votes (39.9%), Bass received 15,691 votes (32.8%), and Pratt received 8,489 votes (17.8%). Raman, who had appeared emotional on election night believing she had fallen short, ultimately advanced to face Bass in November while Pratt was eliminated.
The dramatic shift fueled widespread criticism of California’s extended counting process and heavy reliance on mail-in ballots that can continue arriving days after Election Day. President Donald Trump stated last week that the Department of Justice would take a close look at the state’s election system, describing it as overdue scrutiny of a process many view as lacking transparency.
Critics argue that the combination of universal mail-in ballots, extended receipt deadlines, and prolonged counting periods creates opportunities for manipulation and erodes public confidence. They point to the pattern in which late ballot surges disproportionately benefited one candidate after initial results had already been reported.
Supporters of election integrity reforms have renewed calls for measures including universal voter ID requirements, proof of citizenship for registration, and an end to extended “election seasons” in favor of stricter Election Day standards. The Los Angeles mayoral outcome has intensified the debate over whether California’s current system prioritizes speed and transparency or leaves room for last-minute adjustments through late mail-in ballots.
The final certified results reflect Raman advancing alongside Bass, while Pratt’s strong initial performance ultimately fell short after the additional ballots were tallied.
