Fact check: Trump lies again about California elections ahead of the state’s primaries

Trump’s Claims About California Elections Under Scrutiny Ahead of Primaries

Fact check – As the countdown to California’s upcoming primaries continues, President Donald Trump has once again made bold assertions about the state’s election system, alleging widespread fraud in its voting processes. These claims, which echo his repeated criticisms over the years, have drawn sharp responses from election officials and experts who highlight the accuracy and integrity of California’s electoral framework.

Fox News Interview Sparks New Allegations

During a recent Fox News interview, Trump reiterated his long-standing skepticism of California’s elections, stating, “Their elections are a fraud; their mail-in votes are a fraud.” This declaration, made just days before the state’s critical primaries for governor and other offices, has been met with skepticism by fact-checkers and officials who stress that such accusations lack substantial evidence.

“In a recent Fox News interview, Trump asserted that California’s elections are a fraud, claiming, ‘Their elections are a fraud; their mail-in votes are a fraud.'”

Later in the same interview, Trump further contended, “You know, they don’t have voting booths. Everything’s by mail.” This statement is misleading, as California’s voting system offers multiple avenues for participation. While mail-in ballots are a common method, voters are also free to cast their votes in person at designated locations, including vote centers that provide a range of voting options.

Mail-In Voting Is Not Exclusive to California

California’s election process, though well-known for its mail-in ballot system, is not unique in this regard. In fact, the state’s approach aligns with broader practices across the U.S. and internationally. All active registered voters in California receive a mail-in ballot, but the option to vote in person remains available. This flexibility is a key feature of the state’s current system, designed to accommodate diverse voter preferences and ensure accessibility.

“According to the California Secretary of State’s website, every registered voter has the choice to vote either at a polling place or through mail-in ballots. This includes the ability to surrender an unused mail ballot at a vote center or destroy it independently, with only one ballot counted per voter per election.”

For example, Santa Clara County explains on its official site that the Voter’s Choice Act allows voters to receive mail ballots automatically, but they can still choose to vote in person. This ensures that no single method dominates the process, and voters are not forced to rely solely on mail-in ballots. In the 2024 general election, approximately 3.1 million ballots were cast in person, representing about 19% of the total votes recorded, which underscores the significance of in-person participation.

Global Context of Mail-In Voting

Trump’s argument that mail-in voting is no longer used in other countries has been debunked by election experts. In fact, numerous nations, including Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, Germany, and Switzerland, continue to implement mail-in voting systems, albeit with varying policies. These systems are often designed to ensure voter convenience and participation, especially in regions with dispersed populations or challenging voting conditions.

“Trump’s statement that ‘No other country in the world is doing mail-in voting anymore because it’s a fraud’ is inaccurate. Experts note that while mail-in ballots may have slightly higher fraud rates compared to in-person voting, the overall incidence of fraud in these elections remains minimal, even in federal races.”

California’s election officials emphasize that the system is not inherently flawed. They point to the state’s rigorous verification processes, which include signature matching and ballot tracking, as safeguards against errors. The claim that “nobody knows where the ballots are going” has also been refuted, with data showing that California’s 22.6 million registered voters as of two weeks before the last presidential election had a clear and documented distribution of ballots, including over 23 million voters registered by May 18, 2026.

Trump’s “Jesus Christ” Remark: A Bold Understatement

During a May 20 appearance with reporters, Trump took his allegations to an extreme, claiming, “If we had Jesus Christ come down and count the votes, I would have won California.” This assertion, made in the context of the state’s strong Democratic lean, ignores the consistent outcomes of previous elections. In 2016, Trump lost California by 30 percentage points, with over 4 million votes. In 2020, the margin was 29 points, and in 2024, it stood at 20 points, with more than 3 million votes separating him from the winner.

“Trump’s ‘Jesus Christ’ comment, which suggested that the state’s vote count was so skewed he could have won with divine oversight, is not supported by the actual numbers. California’s voter registration system is robust, and the distribution of ballots is meticulously tracked, leaving no room for such an exaggerated claim.”

The figure of 38 million votes he mentioned also requires scrutiny. California had approximately 22.6 million registered voters as of two weeks before the 2024 election and about 23.2 million by May 18, 2026. The assertion that 15 million excess ballots were distributed in any single election is unfounded, as the state’s election offices maintain detailed records of ballot distribution and usage.

Fact-Checking the Claims

California Attorney General Rob Bonta, a Democrat, has previously criticized Trump’s misleading statements, including the one about mail-in voting. In response to the recent allegations, Bonta emphasized, “Where, yes, there are voting booths. Lots of them,” highlighting the presence of physical voting locations that serve as a critical check against the idea that mail-in ballots are the sole method of voting.

“California Attorney General Rob Bonta, a Democrat, tweeted, ‘President Trump, once again, is lying,’ in direct response to Trump’s false claims. He added, ‘Where, yes, there are voting booths. Lots of them,’ underscoring that in-person voting is not only possible but actively utilized by millions of voters.”

Experts agree that Trump’s claims are part of a broader pattern of misinformation. His assertion that mail-in voting is a fraud fails to account for the state’s extensive safeguards, such as ballot tracking, signature verification, and county-level oversight. These measures, combined with California’s history of accurate vote counting, paint a picture of a system that is both reliable and adaptable to modern voter needs.

As the primaries approach, the accuracy of California’s election process remains a central topic of discussion. While Trump’s rhetoric may aim to sow doubt, the facts consistently show that the state’s system is designed to ensure fairness and transparency, with multiple avenues for voter engagement and robust mechanisms to prevent fraud. The challenge now is to counteract his claims with clear, factual information to inform voters and maintain trust in the electoral process.