Riverside sheriff widens ballot-seizure probe in GOP governor bid

Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, a leading GOP candidate for governor, added 426 boxes of ballot materials to his ongoing ‘fact-finding’ probe into alleged election fraud, expanding a seizure that has drawn pushback from California officials including Attorney General Rob Bonta. The UCLA Voting Rights Project has petitioned the California Supreme Court to require the materials’ return, arguing ballots must remain with the county registrar. Critics warn the investigation could erode trust in elections, while Bianco says warrants were judicially approved and aimed at verifying fraud allegations tied to Proposition 50.