California’s governor put his signature on new legislation Wednesday designed to prevent federal interference in state elections, expressing concerns that President Donald Trump’s administration might attempt to disrupt this year’s midterm contests.
The new statute, which became effective right away and comes just days ahead of next Tuesday’s primary election, bars anyone — federal agents included — from gaining access to voter databases or election systems without obtaining a court order first. The measure also limits law enforcement from interfering with election personnel, except during public safety emergencies.
While Trump administration representatives have stated they don’t intend to deploy immigration agents to voting sites nationwide — a worry expressed by multiple Democratic secretaries of state this year — the governor cautioned that “we have to be prepared for everything” since “there’s no rules anymore with the Trump administration.”
California’s closely monitored gubernatorial primary is already seeing voter participation, with numerous Democratic candidates and two competitive Republicans competing for only two positions on the November general election ballot. The state’s open primary format allows just the top two vote recipients to move forward, without regard to party membership.
The governor, who is term-limited and cannot run again, described the election legislation as addressing “legitimate anxiety” regarding Trump’s methods, especially in states led by Democrats, where the president has sent federal agents despite local officials’ opposition. The Democratic leader cautioned against underestimating someone who “doesn’t believe in free and fair elections.”
“I expect the worst with Trump because he’s done the worst,” he stated during a press briefing.
White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson responded to The Associated Press Wednesday evening that Trump remains dedicated to ensuring Americans maintain complete confidence in election administration.
“Instead of levying false attacks at the President, Newscum should look in the mirror,” she commented in a statement, referencing Trump’s disparaging term for the governor.
During a Vanity Fair interview last year, White House chief of staff Susie Wiles dismissed suggestions that Trump would use military forces to suppress voting, calling such claims “categorically false.”
The California statute also criminalizes knowingly removing completed ballots from election officials’ control.
Earlier this year, Trump’s FBI confiscated 2020 general election ballots from Georgia’s largest county, which leans heavily Democratic and has been central to the president’s unfounded allegations that fraud caused his electoral loss. The FBI and Justice Department have also requested records from past elections in the biggest counties in Arizona and Michigan.
Trump sparked nationwide redistricting activity before the midterms by encouraging Republicans in Texas and other states to redraw their U.S. House districts to help the party maintain control of the narrowly divided chamber. Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Florida and Tennessee have also approved new maps that may favor Republicans, with Louisiana potentially following suit.
Republicans currently believe they could pick up as many as 14 seats through redistricting in November, while Democrats estimate they could gain six in California and Utah.
