California sheriff seizes over 650,000 election ballots

Chad Bianco, a Republican sheriff and candidate for governor, seized more than 650,000 ballots from the 2025 Proposition 50 election. Bianco says he is investigating irregularities, but county election officials and prosecutors say there is no evidence ballots were cast unlawfully. The seizure has drawn bipartisan criticism and prompted legal questions about custody, proper authority, and potential election interference. The action could disrupt certification, deepen distrust in elections, and become a central issue in Bianco's gubernatorial campaign.