White House Press Secretary Criticizes California Election Security
On Tuesday, White House press secretary Caroline Levitt criticized California Governor Gavin Newsom for overlooking serious election security issues in the state. She quoted Newsom, stating, “They cheat and lie because they know they’re going to lose,” in relation to discussions about election fraud.
Levitt pointed out that California has no requirement for voters to present a photo ID when voting. She urged Newsom to “stop tweeting at me and do your job,” underscoring her concern about the state’s election laws. “California has some of the weakest election security laws in the country. Governor Newsom and other leaders in California’s Democratic Party refuse to implement basic measures to ensure election integrity,” she noted. Levitt further highlighted that almost 90% of Americans back photo ID laws.
She also raised concerns about California’s universal mail-in voting system. Levitt remarked, “California’s adoption of universal mail-in voting is particularly susceptible to fraud. In the 2024 elections, nearly 10 million mail-in ballots were sent out but never returned.” She referenced a bipartisan commission that had previously indicated absentee voting poses significant risks of fraud.
Additionally, Levitt pointed out that San Francisco permits non-citizens to vote in local elections, which she considers a potential risk for federal election integrity. During the 2024 election cycle, California reported over 2 million dual registrations, which accounted for 15.6% of all registered voters, she claimed. Furthermore, she noted that only about 12% of voters were removed from the registration rolls due to death, a figure she suggested was lower than the national average.
Levitt’s remarks come amidst criticism from California voters who have expressed dissatisfaction with Newsom and the state’s Democratic Party over gerrymandered voting proposals. Public feedback, obtained by a news foundation, showed that thousands disapproved of the proposed interim Congressional map prior to a special election.
Out of around 20,000 suggestions, the majority rejected the map, with many comments urging state officials to focus on resolving local issues instead of engaging in political conflicts with federal authorities.
