California officers are as soon as once more taking a swing at President Donald Trump—this time over his plan to deploy federal “election monitors” to deep-blue districts forward of subsequent week’s elections. In response, the state is sending its personal observers to maintain watch over the method.
“They’re not going to be allowed to interfere in ways that the law prohibits,” California Lawyer Common Rob Bonta, a Democrat, mentioned on Monday. “We cannot be naive. The Republican Party asked for the U.S. [Department of Justice] to come in.”
Trump’s Justice Division introduced final week that it might ship displays to a number of jurisdictions in California and New Jersey, following a request from the California Republican Occasion. In California, voters are about to determine on Proposition 50, a poll measure to allow the state to redraw its congressional districts in ways in which might hand Democrats extra Home seats. Polls present the measure headed for a win, leaving state Republicans scrambling to border the election as suspect.
Lawyer Common Pam Bondi mentioned the Justice Division would monitor polling in six jurisdictions: California’s Kern, Riverside, Fresno, Orange, and Los Angeles counties, in addition to New Jersey’s Passaic County. Personnel from DOJ’s Civil Rights Division will coordinate with U.S. attorneys’ places of work forward of the Nov. 4 election.
The transfer seems to be a political stunt meant to sow doubt within the election outcomes.
“He is laying the groundwork. He is socializing an idea that is very dangerous,” Bonta mentioned, referring to Trump’s repeated false claims of fraud within the 2020 presidential election. “All indications, all arrows show that this is a tee-up for something more dangerous in the 2026 midterms—and maybe beyond.”
California Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks throughout a information convention on Aug. 14 in Los Angeles.
Bonta referred to as the federal monitoring “unnecessary but welcome” and mentioned the Republican Occasion was “feign[ing] worry.” He added that the state’s registrar of voters, secretary of state, and his personal workplace would have “some role potentially” to make sure the method received’t be disrupted.
California Secretary of State Shirley Weber echoed that criticism, saying in a press release that the Trump administration’s actions weren’t justified.
“We will not permit tactics masquerading as oversight to erode voter confidence or intimidate Californians,” she added.
In response to Day by day Kos’ request for remark concerning Bonta’s remarks, a Justice Division spokeswoman pointed to a social media put up from Jesus Osete, the DOJ’s principal deputy assistant lawyer common for civil rights.
“Thankfully our monitors are trained professionals who will be protected by federal law, which prohibits interference with their official duties,” Osete wrote.
Trump’s push for federal oversight in California’s vote comes amid an escalating redistricting battle sparked earlier this yr in Texas, the place Republican lawmakers—at Trump’s urging—redrew congressional strains to increase GOP management. That map triggered Democratic retaliation in states like California, the place Prop 50 goals to spice up Democratic illustration within the Home.
Since then, extra crimson states, together with Indiana, Missouri, and North Carolina, have moved to lock in extra Republican seats.
For California, the combat has turn out to be each political and private. The state has spent a lot of Trump’s second time period resisting his administration in court docket. Sending election observers of its personal is simply the newest approach to remind Washington that California isn’t backing down.
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