Trending Now - California Enacts Law to Protect Elections From Federal Interference

WHO:

The Guardian - Gavin Newsom, California’s governor

ABC News - Gavin Newsom, California’s governor

The Guardian - President Donald Trump

ABC News - President Donald Trump

The Guardian - Abigail Jackson, White House spokesperson

ABC News - Abigail Jackson, White House spokesperson

The Guardian - Susie Wiles, White House chief of staff

ABC News - Susie Wiles, White House chief of staff

WHAT:

The Guardian - Gavin Newsom signed legislation to shield California elections from federal interference.

ABC News - The law prohibits any person, including federal agents, from accessing voter rolls or election technology without a court order.

The Guardian - Law enforcement officers are restricted from disrupting election workers, except in public safety emergencies.

ABC News - The law makes it a crime to knowingly take voted ballots out of the custody of election officials.

The Guardian - Voting is already underway in California’s primary for governor.

ABC News - Voting is already underway in California's primary for governor.

WHERE:

The Guardian - California

ABC News - California

WHEN:

The Guardian - The law took effect immediately and came days before next Tuesday’s primary.

ABC News - The law took effect immediately and came days before next Tuesday’s primary.

WHY:

The Guardian - Newsom stated the law was a response to “legitimate anxiety” about Trump’s tactics.

ABC News - Newsom expressed concern about Trump’s potential interference in the midterm elections.

HOW:

The Guardian - Newsom warned, “we have to be prepared for everything” due to the lack of rules with the Trump administration.

ABC News - Newsom warned, “we have to be prepared for everything” because “there’s no rules anymore with the Trump administration.”

(UPDATED May 28, 2026 18:01 UTC)

California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed new legislation aimed at protecting the state's elections from federal interference, which prohibits anyone, including federal agents, from accessing voter rolls or election technology without a court order. The law, which took effect immediately, also restricts law enforcement from disrupting election workers unless there is a public safety emergency and makes it a crime to knowingly remove voted ballots from election officials' custody. Newsom stated that this move was in response to concerns about Trump's tactics and potential interference in the upcoming midterm elections, emphasizing the need to be prepared for everything given the current lack of rules under the Trump administration.