Donald Trump escalated his unfounded claims of election fraud in California on Thursday, alleging that Democrats were stealing the gubernatorial and Los Angeles mayoral primaries and suggesting the U.S. Attorney's Office in Los Angeles was investigating. The president provided no evidence to support his allegations.
In two early-morning posts on Truth Social, Trump attacked what he called "BIG cheating" and the "very late and massive numbers" of mail-in ballots being counted. He also claimed votes were "all tied up" and might not be finalized for weeks.
The U.S. Attorney's Office in Los Angeles declined to comment on Trump's assertion that his fraud claims were under investigation. The Department of Justice in Washington also did not respond to requests for comment on the president's statements.
California's election process is straightforward and designed to include mail-in voting. About 80 percent of votes cast in the state come by mail, and ballots postmarked before election day can be counted for up to a week afterward. The state uses a "jungle" primary system where the top two vote-getters advance to a runoff regardless of party affiliation, unless someone wins an outright majority.
The governor's race featured 61 candidates, fragmenting the Republican vote. Republicans coalesced behind Trump-endorsed Steve Hilton, who is locked in a tight contest with Democrat Xavier Becerra and businessman Tom Steyer. Mail-in ballots historically favor Democratic candidates, a pattern that could affect Hilton's placement as counting continues.
Trump's latest attack mirrors his long pattern of questioning election results that do not favor him. He has repeatedly claimed without evidence that Democrats stole the 2020 presidential election, which he lost to Joe Biden, even as aides said he privately acknowledged his defeat.
Election security experts and officials warned that prolonged counting periods create opportunities for misinformation. California Governor Gavin Newsom last month urged election officials to work quickly while maintaining accuracy, writing that delayed results invite "disingenuous accusations of misconduct."
Mike DuHaime of the Democracy Defense Project, a bipartisan election integrity effort, echoed that concern on Wednesday evening. He noted that while accuracy is paramount, delays in counting "erode confidence in our electoral process" and allow misinformation to spread online. The Republican primary outcome in California remains uncertain as mail-in ballots continue to be processed.
Author James Rodriguez: "Trump's baseless fraud claims without waiting for final results show a president willing to undermine democracy whenever it suits him, and his unsupported attacks on California's transparent voting system should alarm anyone who values election integrity."
Comments