DeSantis bashes lengthy vote-counting process in Calif.: ‘It’s pathetic’
OAN Staff Addie Davis
2:30 PM – Thursday, June 4, 2026
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis took to social media to criticize the California election process, calling out the lengthy amount of time needed to count ballots.
DeSantis (R-Fla.) contrasted Florida’s and California’s process for counting votes on Wednesday after some of Tuesday’s primary elections yielded no results for Californians.
“Florida processes more than 10 million votes in a matter of hours. California takes days – or sometimes even weeks – to count the votes. It’s pathetic – and it’s corrosive to our civic culture,” DeSantis posted to X.
The governor’s claims come on the heels of the primary elections held in several states, including the nonpartisan gubernatorial primary race in the Golden State.
California Secretary of State Shirley Weber’s office explained that all active and registered voters in the state were automatically sent a mail-in ballot for the elections. Voters may choose to mail in or drop off their ballots, or forego mailed ballots and vote in-person at a polling location.
The office explained that mail-in ballots must be postmarked by election day and received no more than seven days after, also noting that election officials have about a month to complete the process of counting and certifying the results. On July 10th, 38 days after the election, the secretary of state will certify the election results.
A recently passed California law meant to reduce ballot counting times gives officials until 13 days after an election to finish counting the votes, though certain types of ballots are excepted, and election officials can file an extension notice if they cannot make the deadline.
Many have framed the lengthy vote counting process as ensuring all votes are properly counted.
“Many voters choose to return their Vote by Mail ballot on Election Day. Those ballots are valid and deserve the same level of care, security, and verification as every other ballot cast in the election,” stated the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk in an X post on Wednesday.
The gubernatorial Democrat candidate billionaire Tom Steyer, commenting on criticisms leveled by President Donald Trump on the California election process, also emphasized taking time to count ballots.
“Donald Trump is not a fan of free and fair elections, but we already knew that. California: We count every ballot. Thank you for your patience as we give democracy time to work,” Steyer posted to X on Thursday.
However, many have not found this explanation to be sufficient for the weeks-long vote-counting process.
Erika Kirk, CEO of Turning Point U.S.A. and widow of prominent conservative activist Charlie Kirk, commented on Steyer’s post.
“This type of rhetoric is deliberate. Saying ‘every ballot’ instead of ‘every legal vote’. That’s the tell. The real issue is making sure we only count ballots cast lawfully by actual eligible American voters. Nothing more, nothing less. We the people deserve better!” she said.
Trump took to Truth Social after the elections to accuse Democrats of attempting to cheat and “steal” the election.
“Look what’s happening in California, the Dumocrats, right before our very eyes, are stealing the Vote. I hope the Republicans are watching so that they can finally pass THE SAVE AMERICA ACT!” he posted to Truth Social on Thursday.
The Los Angeles mayoral nonpartisan primary election featuring incumbent Karen Bass, television personality Spencer Pratt, and L.A. Councilmember Nithya Raman is another area of concern.
Commenting on news that Pratt’s odds of winning the election had dropped, DeSantis insinuated an effort was being made to count the ballots until the desired end is reached.
“California keeps dumping votes. Odds are shifting because the vote dumps always seem to go one way. Count until you get the result you want?” DeSantis said.
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