Full Breakdown
Shasta County Clerk Seeks to Hire Convicted Election Denier Tina Peters
8/18/2026, 8:12:08 PM
Core Event: Proposed Hiring of Tina Peters
In August 2026, outgoing clerk Clint Curtis announced plans to bring Tina Peters—former Mesa County, Colorado clerk convicted of election-system tampering—to serve as a consultant or contract assistant registrar. Peters would replace Assistant Registrar Brent Turner, who is on medical leave, and would have no direct access to voting machines. The proposal was made public during an interview with a conservative radio host and sparked immediate controversy.
Background & Context: Shasta County’s Election-Denial Landscape
Shasta County, a conservative region of roughly 182,000 residents, has become a focal point for election-denial activism. In 2023 the board of supervisors attempted to sever ties with Dominion Voting Systems and adopt hand-counting, a move state officials blocked. The same year voters approved Measure B, requiring single-day in-person voting, photo ID and hand-counts; state courts have since blocked major portions as preempted by California law.
Curtis, appointed clerk in 2025, has repeatedly alleged election irregularities and faced a censure from the board for alleged workplace misconduct. In June 2026 voters defeated Curtis, electing longtime elections employee Joanna Francescut to succeed him. Curtis will remain in office until the end of the year.
Data & Statistics
- Shasta County population: ? 182,000.
- Measure B: voter-ID, single-day in-person voting, hand-counting; partially blocked by courts.
- Tina Peters convictions (2024): four felonies and three misdemeanors for allowing unauthorized access to Dominion software.
- Sentence commuted by Colorado Gov. Jared Polis on May 15 2024; Peters released from prison on June 1 2026 after serving less than two years of a nine-year term.
Official Statements & Responses
Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold called Peters’ potential influence on election administration “troubling” given her convictions.
Criticism & Opposition
Matt Crane, executive director of the Colorado County Clerk’s Association, labeled the hiring “alarming” and said bringing Peters into California elections is “almost beyond parody.” U.S. Senator Alex Padilla condemned the plan on X, urging an immediate stop and warning that it threatens “safe, secure, and free elections.” Election-security advocates and Democratic officials in California have similarly expressed alarm, noting that Peters’ criminal record undermines public confidence.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Reports differ on the certainty of Peters’ employment. Curtis maintains that Peters would not access voting systems, while critics argue any involvement by a convicted election-tampering offender could erode trust. The county’s hiring process has not been publicly detailed, leaving contract terms ambiguous.
What’s Next
- The Shasta County Board of Supervisors will review the proposed contract at its next meeting.
- Ongoing litigation over Measure B will continue to shape the county’s election procedures.
- Peters’ parole conditions require Colorado permission for out-of-state travel; any relocation to California will depend on compliance.
- Curtis will leave office at year-end, after which Francescut will assume the clerk’s duties and inherit pending personnel decisions.
