California Lawmakers Defend State's Election Integrity Against DOJ Voter Intimidation

Strategic Insights -

California lawmakers are defending the state's transparent and secure election system, denouncing the use of election monitors from President Trump's Department of Justice (DOJ) to intimidate voters. With a pivotal statewide election around the corner, 41 Democratic Members of Congress from California have signed a letter to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi and Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon, urging the DOJ to refrain from conduct that lowers voter participation or intimidates voters. The letter highlights California's robust election system, which represents the gold standard for the nation, and emphasizes the need to protect eligible voters, including naturalized U.S. citizens, from voter suppression tactics.

Key Takeaways:

  • 41 Democratic Members of Congress from California have signed a letter to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi and Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon, denouncing the use of election monitors to intimidate voters.
  • California's election administration is considered the gold standard for the nation, with a transparent and secure system that welcomes fair and impartial DOJ observation and monitoring.
  • The state's election system has been highly transparent and secure, with voters receiving voter-verifiable paper audit trails and voting machines that are carefully tested with open, audited processes.
  • The DOJ has provided neither evidence nor a credible allegation of a violation of federal law with respect to elections in California, and has instead used its power to undermine elections by seeking to obtain sensitive personal information of voters.
  • The California lawmakers emphasize the need to protect eligible voters, including naturalized U.S. citizens, from voter suppression tactics and urge the DOJ to refrain from further engaging in conduct that seeks to lower voter participation, intimidate voters, or undermine voters' trust in the outcome.
  • The letter was co-led by Rep. Kevin Mullin (CA-15), Co-Chair of the Taskforce on Strengthening Democracy; Rep. Zoe Lofgren, (CA-18), Chair of the California Democratic Congressional Delegation; Democratic Caucus Vice Chair Rep. Ted Lieu (CA-36); Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37), and Rep. Norma Torres (CA-35).

Statistics:

  • Over 16.1 million Californians voted without incident in the last statewide election in November 2024, representing more than 71 percent of registered voters.
  • California's election system welcomes over 16 million voters in the November general election, with a voter-verifiable paper audit trail and carefully checked in-process that ensures the integrity of every vote.
  • The state's voting machines are carefully tested, with 92.5% of votes cast in-person on electronic voting systems and the remaining 7.5% cast through mail-in ballots.

Sources:

  • Rep. Kevin Mullin, D-California, "California Lawmakers Defend State's Election Integrity & Oppose Voter Intimidation by Department of Justice Election Monitors," news release, October 30, 2025.
  • Original text here: https://kevinmullin.house.gov/2025/10/30/california-lawmakers-defend-states-election-integrity-oppose-voter-intimidation-by-department-of-justice-election-monitors/