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The special election to replace disgraced former U.S. House Rep. Katie Hill (D-CA) is scheduled to take place on Tuesday. But President Trump and Republican nominee Mike Garcia are alleging deliberate Democratic shenanigans are going on in the race, and suggesting the process has become “rigged.”

Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) signed an order back in late March for all voters in the areas where special elections are taking place (there are three total) to be sent vote-by-mail ballots. This has understandably led to concerns from Republicans about the possibility of widespread absentee ballot fraud.

As a result, the state GOP filed a lawsuit after Newsom refused to respond to an inquiry as to whether or not ballot collectors were considered “essential” or “non-essential” at a time when Newsom has the state on virtual lockdown with strict social distancing measures put in place:

“Governor Newsom has told Californians that they can’t open their businesses, their kids can’t go to school, and they can’t attend family events including weddings and funerals. If we can’t see our mothers on Mother’s Day, then strangers shouldn’t be visiting our homes to collect ballots. He must stop dodging this issue. His silence is irresponsible and is putting Californians’ lives at risk – and without direction from the Democrats in office, we need the courts to weigh in,” concluded California Republican Party Chairwoman Jessica Millan Patterson.

In addition to that, on Friday Los Angeles County officials “approved a request from Lancaster’s mayor to install a voting center in that city this weekend”, according to a report in the Whittier Daily News.

This decision, along with Newsom’s order on the mail-in ballots, led Trump to conclude Democrats were trying to steal the special election by breaking their own Wuhan coroanvirus social distancing rules:

So in California, the Democrats, who fought like crazy to get all mail in only ballots, and succeeded, have just opened a voting booth in the most Democrat area in the State. They are trying to steal another election. It’s all rigged out there. These votes must not count. SCAM!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 9, 2020

Governor @GavinNewsom of California won’t let restaurants, beaches and stores open, but he installs a voting booth system in a highly Democrat area (supposed to be mail in ballots only) because our great candidate, @MikeGarcia2020, is winning by a lot. CA25 Rigged Election!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 9, 2020

Garcia has also pushed back:

1/@ChristyforCA25 and her liberal Dem allies didn’t say anything for weeks even though the polling places were in full view of the public. Even after every voter received a ballot, they are desperate and trying to change the rules to steal an election. We can’t let them succeed!!

— Mike Garcia (@MikeGarcia2020) May 9, 2020

Failed presidential candidate Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) tried to dunk on Trump’s remarks about the CA-25 special election with an irrelevant tweet about the popular vote:

Remind me, who won the popular vote again? https://t.co/DsMEo7DhR6

— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) May 9, 2020

It did not go well at all:

Let me remind you about the electoral college.

— Wildfowler (@Waterfowler365) May 9, 2020

As a senator, I would hope you’re aware, constitutionally, how we elect our president in America.

— @JayBurleson (@burleson64) May 9, 2020

Remember when Tulsi Gabbard ended your "campaign" in 4 sentences ? That was awesome!

— Tony Golan (@tony_golan) May 9, 2020

Remind me who had to drop out of the Democrat primary race because she was polling at 2% with her own party again. 😂

— Catturd ™ (@catturd2) May 9, 2020

Remind me, who dropped out before the Iowa caucus after pissing away tens of millions of other people's money? https://t.co/tJAtUCrhLY

— Larry O'Connor (@LarryOConnor) May 9, 2020

Just a lil’ FYI, Sen. Harris: Trump is still president because you and your party failed in your efforts to remove him from office. Brett Kavanuagh is still a Supreme Court Justice because your and your party’s disgusting #BelieveAllWomen smear tactics failed to derail his nomination.

That is all.

(Hat tip: Twitchy)