California Fresno County District Attorney and Sheriff Election Cycle Challenge

Lawsuit filed on behalf of the people of the state of California by California Attorney General Rob Bonta (D) and California Secretary of State Dr. Shirley Weber (D) against Fresno County Clerk James Kus and Fresno County challenging a recently passed measure that moves the county’s district attorney and sheriff election cycle. In August 2023, the Fresno County Board of Elections approved a ballot measure for the March 2024 primary election that would move the county’s district attorney and sheriff elections from the presidential election cycle to the gubernatorial election cycle.The plaintiffs allege that the measure, which was successfully passed by voters in the March primary, is preempted by a state law enacted in September 2022 that requires counties to hold elections for district attorney and sheriff during the presidential election cycle. They ask the court to prohibit Fresno County from enforcing the measure and moving its district attorney and sheriff elections to the gubernatorial cycle. 

The California attorney general and secretary of state filed their complaint on July 26, 2024.

STATUS: There will be a hearing in this case on March 26, 2025.

Last updated: January 27, 2025 1:36 pm EST