(-) ● Trump Claims California Primary Election Fraud as Vote Count Delays
Former President Donald Trump accused California Democrats of election theft Thursday as the state continued counting mail-in ballots from its primary elections, drawing scrutiny over the pace of results.
California officials have warned that tallying votes from Tuesday’s gubernatorial and mayoral primaries could take weeks to complete. The delayed counting process has sparked criticism from Republican figures and conservative commentators questioning the state’s election security protocols.
Trump’s Election Theft Claims
“The Dumocrats are at it again! They are trying to STEAL THE GOVERNOR OF CALIFORNIA PRIMARY, AND THE MAYOR OF LOS ANGELES, PRIMARY, AWAY FROM TWO GREAT REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES,” Trump posted on Truth Social Thursday morning.
Trump claimed the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Los Angeles is investigating the situation and questioned why ballot counting was taking so long. “There’s BIG cheating by the Dumocrats in California. Votes are all tied up,” he added in a subsequent post.
Trump Pushes Electoral Reform
The former president used the California situation to promote his “Save America Act,” which would require photo ID for all voters, proof of citizenship, and stricter mail-in ballot restrictions. Trump also included provisions opposing transgender medical treatments for minors and transgender participation in women’s sports.
“I hope the Republicans are watching so that they can finally pass THE SAVE AMERICA ACT!” Trump posted Thursday afternoon.
Newsom Defends Counting Process
Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office released a video defending California’s extended ballot counting as a feature of state law, not a flaw. CNN correspondent Elex Michaelson appeared in the explainer, comparing California’s deliberate pace favorably to faster-counting Republican-led states like Florida and Texas.
“Americans should expect, at a minimum, to have elections that are free and fair, and results that are delivered promptly,” wrote Jarrett Stepman for The Daily Signal, challenging the governor’s defense of the slow counting timeline.
Concerns About Vote Trends
In the Los Angeles mayoral race, progressive candidate Nithya Raman has gained ground since election night through subsequent mail-in ballot batches, despite appearing to have lost on voting day. Electoral prediction markets have also shifted dramatically in her favor, fueling questions about the counting process.
“Why would it be a surprise that many are calling foul?” Stepman asked, noting Raman’s unexpected surge days after the primary election concluded.
This story has been updated. CNN’s Staff contributed to this report.