The Trump Administration announced Friday that the Department of Justice will send federal election monitors to polling sites in California and New Jersey to ensure election integrity during the upcoming vote — a move that drew an immediate and heated reaction from California Governor Gavin Newsom.
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon confirmed the plan in a post on X, writing that, “Under @AGPamBondi, @CivilRights will station election monitors in NJ and CA for the upcoming election, helping ensure that every vote cast is free and fair.”
🚨 Under @AGPamBondi, @CivilRights will station election monitors in NJ and CA for the upcoming election, helping ensure that every vote cast is free and fair!
— AAGHarmeetDhillon (@AAGDhillon) October 24, 2025
🔗: https://t.co/72JdRBQwBG
According to the Justice Department’s press release, the monitors will be stationed in the following jurisdictions:
- Passaic County, New Jersey
- Kern County, California
- Riverside County, California
- Fresno County, California
- Orange County, California
- Los Angeles County, California
The decision comes as California prepares for a high-stakes special election to approve or reject new congressional district maps.
The redistricting measure, pushed by state Democrats, would establish five additional Democratic-leaning districts.
Critics argue the move was designed to offset recent Republican-led redistricting efforts in Texas, which could result in several new GOP-held seats.
Governor Newsom responded sharply to the Justice Department’s announcement, claiming the Trump Administration had no authority to send monitors to state-run polling places.
He accused federal officials of attempting to intimidate voters and undermine California’s election process.
“So, today, the Trump Administration announced they’re sending election monitors to five specific counties here in California,” Newsom said Friday.
“They have no business doing that. They have no basis to do that. In fact, we have a statewide election for a statewide constitution. This is about voter intimidation. This is about voter suppression, full stop.”
Newsom continued by linking the monitoring decision to other federal actions taken under President Trump.
“And it’s a pattern, isn’t it? It’s consistent with what they’ve done with the federalization of the National Guard and the chill that’s created,” he said.
“They’ll do that right around Election Day as well. Same thing with ICE, border patrol…Watch that space, showing up in and around polling booths and voting spaces.”
Calling the plan “a bridge too far,” Newsom warned that the deployment of monitors represented a broader threat to democracy.
“They do not believe in free and fair elections! Our Republic, our democracy, is all on the line. We all need to wake up,” he said.
Trump is sending the DOJ to California to “monitor” the election. His intentions are clear — he wants to suppress the vote. And when we win, he will falsely lay claim to fraud.
— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) October 25, 2025
We will not be intimidated. California will defend free and fair elections. pic.twitter.com/FcsHFC0Qn4
Assistant Attorney General Dhillon quickly responded to Newsom’s remarks, noting that the Justice Department has historically sent federal election observers under both Republican and Democratic administrations.
“Lol calm down bro,” Dhillon wrote on X.
“The @TheJusticeDept under Democrat administrations has sent in federal election observers for decades, and not once did we hear that this was voter intimidation from states such as California. Do you really want to go there? Isn’t transparency a good thing?”
Lol calm down bro. The @TheJusticeDept under Democrat administrations has sent in federal election observers for decades, and not once did we hear that this was voter intimidation from states such as California. Do you really want to go there? Isn’t transparency a good thing? https://t.co/SsyR8xRu9q
— AAGHarmeetDhillon (@AAGDhillon) October 25, 2025
The Justice Department has not publicly commented on Newsom’s statement, but officials have maintained that the election monitors will operate under existing federal authority granted to the Civil Rights Division.
The department has used similar measures in past elections to prevent voter intimidation, ensure accessibility, and verify compliance with federal election law.
In California, where ballot measures and statewide referendums have significant national political implications, the Justice Department’s involvement has already drawn attention from both parties.
Supporters of the plan argue that deploying monitors will help ensure transparency and fairness amid growing concerns about mail-in voting, ballot harvesting, and voter eligibility in large urban areas.
While the Justice Department insists the monitors’ presence will safeguard voting rights, California officials remain at odds over whether federal involvement enhances or undermines public confidence in the process.
If any state needs election monitoring, it’s here in Calizuela.
Who cares if nothing wrong is happening?
Feds monitoring election integrity will have a “disparate impact” on Dems weaseling to win!
they don’t weasel as much as outright cheat imho
No Newscum, this is to prevent you from perpetrating fraudulent schemes.