Bonta statement on the First Circuit stay denial

… <div class="field field-name-field-release-date field-type-datetime field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><span property="dc:date" datatype="xsd:dateTime" content="2026-09-10T00:00:00-07:00" class="date-display-single">Thursday, September 10, 2026</span></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-contact field-type-list-text field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Contact: (916) 210-6000, agpressoffice@doj.ca.gov</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p><b>OAKLAND </b>— Co-leading a coalition of 24 attorneys general and the Governor of Pennsylvania, California Attorney General Rob Bonta today secured another victory for voters after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit <a href="https://oag.ca.gov/system/files/attachments/press-docs/ca1-stay-denial.pdf">denied the Trump Administration’s request to stay, or pause, a recent federal court order</a> blocking drastic, unprecedented, and unlawful changes to mail voting adopted by the U.S. Postal Service (USPS). The changes, which were mandated by President Trump’s second elections-related Executive Order, would require state and local election officials to redesign and reprint ballot envelopes, enroll millions of voters in a new and untested USPS system, and meet burdensome requirements that would allow USPS to refuse to deliver mail ballots that do not comply. Last week, the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts <a href="https://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/attorney-general-bonta-secures-extended-block-trump-administration%E2%80%99s-attempt" title="https://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/attorney-general-bonta-secures-extended-block-trump-administration%E2%80%99s-attempt">granted the coalition’s request for a preliminary injunction</a>, after <a href="https://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/attorney-general-bonta-secures-early-win-voters-lawsuit-over-usps-rule" title="https://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/attorney-general-bonta-secures-early-win-voters-lawsuit-over-usps-rule">previously granting a temporary restraining order</a>. The preliminary injunction blocks the USPS changes through the fast-approaching November midterm elections. The Trump Administration appealed the decision and asked the First Circuit to let the changes take effect. Today, the First Circuit denied that request.</p> <p>“The First Circuit has once again rejected the Trump Administration’s latest attempt to disrupt mail voting,” <b>said Attorney General Rob Bonta</b>. “The changes at issue could disenfranchise millions of voters, especially given how little time there is to implement them. As a reminder, President Trump has repeatedly voted by mail himself — he doesn’t get to decide that mail voting is good enough for him, but not for other Americans.”</p> <p>“The rule of law continues to slap down Trump’s dangerous and un-American attacks on our democracy,”<strong> said</strong> <b>Governor Gavin Newsom.</b> “California will never stop fighting for democracy and people’s ability to exercise their constitutional right to vote.” </p> …