Trump, DOJ Probe California Election Over Federal Interference Claims

A new poll shows 41% of California voters lack confidence that this year’s elections will be free of federal interference, with a sharp partisan divide—79% of Democrats trust local officials while 55% of Republicans do not. The concerns follow President Donald Trump's baseless accusations of fraud in the state, including claims that the Los Angeles mayoral race was “rigged,” which he amplified after progressive candidate Nithya Raman overtook Republican Spencer Pratt in the primary count.

The U.S. Justice Department has escalated scrutiny of California’s election system, launching multiple fraud investigations, establishing a public tip line for alleged misconduct, and sending federal prosecutors to observe the ballot‑processing center in Los Angeles County. DOJ officials have criticized the state’s voter‑registration practices, such as allowing first‑time voters to verify identity with gym memberships or prescription‑drug labels, and have questioned the adequacy of voter‑roll maintenance and third‑party ballot‑collection laws. Late‑counted ballots reshaped the mayoral primary, erasing Pratt’s early lead and advancing Raman to the general election, fueling further debate over California’s lengthy vote‑counting process.