Federal prosecutors in Los Angeles have opened an investigation into election fraud allegations connected to California's elections, the office announced as voters cast ballots in primary races statewide.
The announcement came as Californians selected party nominees for multiple offices, including the high-profile governor's race to replace outgoing Governor Gavin Newsom. The timing drew attention given the competitive nature of several contests on the ballot.
Federal prosecutors have the authority to investigate election crimes involving federal candidates or violations of federal law, including voter intimidation, ballot tampering, and certain types of fraud. When pursuing such investigations, U.S. attorney's offices typically work with state and local election officials. California uses a top-two primary system where all candidates appear on a single ballot, and the two candidates with the most votes advance to the general election regardless of party affiliation.
The Los Angeles office, which covers a jurisdiction including millions of voters across Southern California counties, provided no details about which specific races are under scrutiny or the nature of the alleged fraud being investigated.
Early results showed Republican Steve Hilton and Democrat Xavier Becerra leading in the governor's primary contest. The investigation comes as the justice department sent a federal prosecutor to observe ballot processing in Los Angeles county. State officials have rejected baseless claims about election integrity, though the delay in results immediately prompted misinformation about California's elections.
Federal election fraud prosecutions remain relatively uncommon, though the Justice Department maintains specialized units focused on election crimes. The U.S. attorney's office said it would provide updates as the investigation progresses.
California Secretary of State officials have not publicly commented on the federal probe. The state has implemented multiple election security measures in recent years, including risk-limiting audits and voter-verified paper trails for all ballots cast.
Experts have warned that ballot counting could extend beyond election day for the primary races involving the governor, Los Angeles mayor, and congressional seats. California's larger population and voting procedures have contributed to slower result reporting in recent election cycles.
The investigation represents the latest development in ongoing scrutiny of California's election processes at the federal level. The state, the nation's largest by population and a Democratic stronghold, has faced repeated claims about election integrity despite officials consistently rejecting such allegations.
The U.S. attorney's office has indicated it will release additional information about the investigation as it continues. Californians can expect the final results from the primary races to be released over the coming days as election officials complete ballot processing and verification procedures.