Congressman DeSaulnier’s Statement on DOJ Demands to Contra Costa County Registrar of Voters

October 23, 2026 Press Release Walnut Creek, CA – Congressman Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10) responded with the following statement to a demand letter sent by the U.S. Department of Justice to several California counties, including Contra Costa County, giving the registrar of voters 48 hours to quarantine the ballots of more than 400 voters. “The integrity of our elections is a fundamental pillar of our democracy,” said Congressman DeSaulnier . “I echo Contra Costa County Clerk-Recorder Kristin Connelly in her commitment to ensuring elections in our community and across the country are secure, free, and fair. I have confidence that local elections officials are conducting this election in accordance with all state and federal laws and working to protect the Constitutional rights guaranteed to American citizens, including ensuring that every eligible voter who wants to participate in the upcoming election has the opportunity to do so. Today’s Department of Justice letter comes just hours after the Trump Administration preemptively sued to block the election certification in Alaska if the Republican candidate for Senate loses the race. I am deeply concerned by the escalating weaponization of the Justice Department to interfere with the November 3rd election.”