Full Breakdown
Shasta County Moves to Bring Convicted Election Denier Tina Peters Into Elections Office
8/20/2026, 2:28:58 AM
Proposed Hiring of Tina Peters in Shasta County
Clint Curtis, Shasta County’s clerk and registrar of voters, announced plans to add former Colorado elections clerk Tina Peters to the county elections office as a consultant-assistant registrar. The role would replace Deputy Registrar Brent Turner, who is on medical leave, and would be on a contract basis. Hiring is slated for September, ahead of the November 2026 midterm elections, and would give Peters access to ballot-counting functions and other election duties.
Background & Context
Peters was the clerk-recorder for Mesa County, Colorado, and was convicted in August 2024 on seven of ten charges, including four felonies, for unauthorized access to voting equipment while promoting false 2020 election-fraud claims. She received a nine-year sentence, later commuted by Gov. Jared Polis on May 15, and was released on parole on June 1 after about 20 months. Since her release, she has continued speaking on far-right platforms.
Shasta County, a conservative enclave in northern California, has a history of challenging state voting rules. Curtis, appointed clerk-registrar in 2025, has faced censure from the county board of supervisors for alleged personnel-policy violations.
Official Statements & Responses
- Curtis said hiring her as a consultant would protect her from “false accusations” while allowing her to work on election matters.
- Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff wrote to Secretary of State Shirley Weber expressing “grave concern” that the plan could give Peters “dangerous influence over elections.” They requested maximum oversight to ensure she does not improperly access ballots or voting systems.
- Governor Gavin Newsom posted that the state is investigating Peters’ potential hiring.
Criticism & Opposition
The senators’ letter framed the hiring as a possible violation of state and federal law, linking it to former President Donald Trump’s rhetoric about “taking over the voting.” The Board of Supervisors’ recent censure of Curtis underscores internal concerns about partisan hiring. Local officials and moderate Republicans have warned that placing Peters in an election-administration role could undermine confidence in Shasta County’s electoral integrity.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Employment status: Curtis describes the role as a contract consultancy, while Deputy CEO Stewart Buettell says Peters would follow the same hiring process as other applicants, creating ambiguity about her access level.
- Parole restrictions: Peters remains on parole in Colorado and would need permission to travel outside the state, a factor not yet resolved.
What’s Next
- Oversight request: Senators Padilla and Schiff have asked Secretary Weber to provide “maximum oversight” of any employment arrangement involving Peters.
- Hiring timeline: Curtis plans to bring Peters on board in September; the exact terms and whether the contract will grant her direct system access remain to be clarified.
- Potential legal review: State officials may evaluate whether the proposed role complies with California election law, which restricts individuals with felony convictions related to election offenses from holding certain positions.
The situation places a convicted election-fraud promoter at the center of a county election office, prompting federal and state officials to seek heightened scrutiny before the 2026 midterms.
