Court blocks California effort to stop Republican sheriff’s ballot recount

Panel denies attorney general's bid after Riverside county sheriff Chad Bianco seized 650,000 special-election ballots

A three-judge panel has denied a filing by California's attorney general, Rob Bonta, seeking a court order to stop the Riverside county sheriff's department from continuing its recount of ballots from the November 2025 special election.

The LA Times reported that Bonta filed a petition with the fourth appellate district on Monday, writing that the sheriff's misguided investigation threatens to sow distrust and jeopardize public confidence" in upcoming elections.