Local & Community
Tracking the Claims: How Election Fraud Allegations Sparked A Riverside County Investigation
As the legal battle between Rob Bonta and Chad Bianco continues in court, new details are emerging about the individuals and groups behind longstanding voter fraud allegations in Riverside County.
The dispute centers on an investigation launched by Bianco into the 2025 special election vote count.
However, claims of election fraud in the county date back several years. A recent report by CalMatters suggests that both past and current allegations are based on what it describes as limited or “thin” evidence.
Concerns about election integrity in Riverside County gained traction in 2022, when Shelby Bunch repeatedly addressed the Riverside County Board of Supervisors. She raised questions about the potential manipulation of electronic voting machines tied to the 2020 presidential election.
Bunch spoke on behalf of the New State of California, a conservative group advocating for the creation of a 51st U.S. state governed under Republican leadership and aligned with former President Donald Trump.
Leaders of the organization, including President and Governor Pro Tem Robert Paul Preston, say their concerns about election integrity in Riverside County remain unchanged.
According to CalMatters, emails between Bunch and Sheriff Bianco reveal inconsistencies in the claims and a lack of substantiated evidence. The report also highlights how these early allegations may have influenced later actions by the sheriff’s office.
In 2025, similar concerns resurfaced when Greg Langworthy, a member of the Riverside Election Integrity Team, alleged a discrepancy of approximately 45,000 ballots in the special election.
Supporters of the New State of California argue the overlap in claims is not coincidental. However, CalMatters maintains that the seizure of thousands of ballots by the sheriff’s office was driven by claims lacking strong evidentiary support and tied to politically motivated groups.
With a high-stakes gubernatorial race on the horizon, experts warn that continued allegations—regardless of their validity—could have wider implications beyond Riverside County, potentially affecting public trust in election systems statewide.
By: Alondra Campos
April 21, 2026
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