Alex Padilla: “I think Leader Schumer and others have encouraged us to consider balanced thinking.”

Still, this incident is a stark reminder of the very real dangers facing those who serve the public and who help administer our elections in the face of increasingly hostile political rhetoric — especially from Donald Trump.

They’re desperate. They’re looking for this proof that Trump has been barking about for more than ten years about massive voter fraud, which simply does not exist.

I know how California elections work very, very well. They’re safe, they’re secure. They’re fair, they’re free, and they’re going to stay that way.

The 2026 midterm elections have begun. We urge you to immediately reaffirm that the Department will forgo any actions that would interfere with the lawful administration of the 2026 elections.