Former President Donald Trump accused Democratic officials of attempting to steal California’s primary elections Thursday as the state continued tallying mail-in ballots weeks after Election Day.
Trump posted multiple messages on Truth Social claiming the delayed vote count in California’s gubernatorial and Los Angeles mayoral races represented fraudulent activity. State officials have indicated that counting mail-in ballots could take several weeks to complete.
Trump’s Allegations and Posts
“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 wrote Thursday morning. He added that the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Los Angeles was investigating the situation.
Trump followed up with additional posts claiming the counting delays represented “BIG cheating” and urged Republicans to support the Save America Act. That proposed legislation would require photo ID for all voters, proof of U.S. citizenship, stricter mail-in ballot restrictions, and other provisions, according to Trump’s statements.
California’s Defense of Counting Process
California Governor Gavin Newsom’s office released a video featuring CNN correspondent Elex Michaelson explaining that the state’s extended counting timeline is mandated by state law. The video defended mail-in ballot procedures as secure and accessible to voters.
Critics on social media disputed the state’s justification, with many users arguing the system creates opportunities for fraud. “Americans should expect, at a minimum, to have elections that are free and fair, and results that are delivered promptly,” Jarrett Stepman wrote for The Daily Signal Thursday.
Ongoing Concerns
California’s mail-in ballot system allows votes to be counted after Election Day, creating a slower tallying process than states with faster reporting timelines. Supporters of the system maintain it increases election security and voter accessibility.
The delayed results in some races have prompted speculation and concern among observers tracking the ongoing count. Electoral prediction markets have shifted in recent days as additional mail-in ballots continue to be processed and reported.