As Threats Against Election Officials Rise, California's Legislature Advances Bill Improving Protections

Sacramento, CA – Yesterday, the California Legislature unanimously passed SB 239 by Senator Jesse Arreguín (D-Oakland), which would expand protections against criminal threats of violence directed at county and city election officials and local elected officials.

“Free and fair elections are the cornerstone of our democracy, and attacks against officials sworn to uphold our democratic institutions threatens the integrity of our democratic processes,” said Senator Jesse Arreguín. “SB 239 makes it clear that we will not tolerate threats, harassment, or attacks against those who ensure accuracy and fairness in election results.”

According to the Brennan Center for Justice, there were at least 227 bomb threats reported against election offices across the country during the 2024 general election. In California, bomb threats were reported in Kings, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Diego, and Santa Clara counties, leading to evacuations that delayed vote counting. As jurisdictions prepare for the 2026 general election, conspiracy theories around election integrity have been peddled by the Trump Administration, with false claims spreading across social media. In the past, such actions have inspired death threats against election officials.

In 2025, AB 352 was signed into law, which makes criminal threats against judges, state constitutional officers, and members of the Legislature an aggravating factor in sentencing. That law came on the heels of a spike in threats and attacks against judges and elected officials, including the assassinations of a Kentucky district judge in 2024 and a Minnesota state lawmaker in 2025.

SB 239 builds on this law to include city and county elections officials and elected local agency officials.

SB 239 has received bipartisan support through the legislative process and is supported by the California Municipal Clerks Association, California Contract Cities Association, California Association of Joint Powers Authorities, and the California Special Districts Association. The bill now heads to the Governor’s Desk, where action must be taken on the bill by September 30.

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