California Governor Gavin Newsom (D) issued a sharp warning on Friday against federal actions he says amount to election interference in the state’s upcoming November vote.
He condemned the planned deployment of Department of Justice (DOJ) election observers in five California counties, calling it an attempt to undermine democracy.
“They're sending election monitors to five specific counties. They have no business doing that," he said in a video posted to the social platform X.
“This is a bridge too far," Newsom added.
The governor went on to say that the Trump administration does "not believe in free and fair elections," warning, "our Republic and democracy are on the line.”
“Donald Trump's puppet DOJ has no business screwing around with next month's election," he said, calling the action "intimidation."
"Sending the feds into California polling places is a deliberate attempt to scare off voters and undermine a fair election. We will not back down. Californians decide our future — no one else," he wrote on X along with the video message.
Newsom’s remarks come as the DOJ announced on Friday it will monitor polling sites in Los Angeles, Orange, Kern, Riverside and Fresno counties at the request of Republican state officials, ahead of a special election in California that features Prop 50 (a congressional redistricting measure) but no federal contests. Election monitors are also being sent to polling places in New Jersey during the off-cycle election next month, where there is a gubernatorial election but no federal seats up for grabs.
A statement from the DOJ said officials will monitor six counties between the two states.
“Transparency at the polls translates into faith in the electoral process, and this Department of Justice is committed to upholding the highest standards of election integrity,” Attorney General Pam Bondi said in the statement.
“We will commit the resources necessary to ensure the American people get the fair, free and transparent elections they deserve.”
Critics of the move argue that the federal monitors represent an unnecessary and politically motivated intrusion into state elections.
Watch Newsom's video below: