Trump administration takes California ballot fight to Supreme Court

The Trump administration on Monday filed an emergency application to the Supreme Court seeking an order that California set aside 20,000 mail-in ballots. The administration claims those ballots were provided to noncitizens. The filing is dated Nov. 2, 2026, one day before the midterm elections, and followed a divided federal appeals court decision that rejected the administration's arguments. Solicitor General D. John Sauer wrote the application. Sauer wrote that once California commingles the challenged ballots with lawful ones, there is no way to get the challenged ballots back. He said the only way to preserve relief after a full merits proceeding is to segregate the challenged ballots now, and he called the request a modest remedy. CONTESTED: none found. Rated outlets agree on the filing, the 20,000 figure, the administration's noncitizen claim, the appeals court rejection, and the pre-election timing. The Supreme Court has not ruled on the application.