The Dispute Index

Sabrina Cervantes

Portrait of Sabrina Cervantes
California State SenateSourcePublic domainOriginal image retained.

Sabrina Cervantes is a Democratic member of the California State Senate, representing the 31st District in the Inland Empire since her election in 2024, and chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee. She was first elected to the California Legislature in 2016.

State legislator (2024 to present)Also known as Sen. Sabrina Cervantes, Senator CervantesWebsite (opens in a new tab)
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What we have documented

We have documented 3 statements by Sabrina Cervantes, in 3 cases. Each statement below gives the quotation, its original source and a link to the full case.

Case updates

Updates on the Riverside ballot seizure after the court's ruling

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Statements by Sabrina Cervantes

Portrait of Sabrina Cervantes

Sabrina Cervantes

Role at the time: California state senator for the 31st District, which includes Riverside, and author of Senate Bills 73 and 1418

Condemned

Statement summary

California State Sen. Sabrina Cervantes said she applauded the California Supreme Court for standing on the side of voting rights, California voters and democracy, and that no one, including law enforcement officers, is above the law when it comes to safeguarding the integrity of elections. She thanked Attorney General Rob Bonta, the UCLA Voting Rights Project and Xavier Becerra for "attacking this issue head-on and winning," and called it a good day for voting rights and California voters.

“I applaud the California Supreme Court for standing on the side of voting rights, California voters, and our democracy. No one, including law enforcement officers, is above the law when it comes to safeguarding the integrity of elections in our Golden State I am thankful to Attorney General Bonta, the UCLA Voting Rights Project, and Secretary Xavier Becerra for attacking this issue head-on and winning. It’s truly a good day for voting rights and California voters”
Read the official statement (opens in a new tab)Senator Cervantes Statement on California Supreme Court Decision on Unlawful Ballot SeizureFirst paragraph (quoted statement) and the paragraph after the description of Senate Bills 73 and 1418
Why we used this label

The case asks whether Sheriff Chad Bianco's seizure of about 650,000 ballots was lawful. Cervantes applauded the California Supreme Court for standing on the side of voting rights, said no one, including law enforcement officers, is above the law when it comes to safeguarding election integrity, and thanked Attorney General Bonta, the UCLA Voting Rights Project and Xavier Becerra for winning. Her office headed the release as a statement on the decision on the unlawful ballot seizure. We read that as criticism of the seizure, so we labeled it Condemned.

Read statementFull case: Was Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco's seizure of about 650,000 ballots lawful?
Portrait of Sabrina Cervantes

Sabrina Cervantes

Role at the time: California state senator

Defended or excused

Statement summary

The official roll call records Sabrina Cervantes's aye vote on AB 2760, which prohibits law enforcement officers, including federal officers, from using wearable electroshock devices in California.

“Recorded action: voted aye on AB 2760 on the Senate floor on August 31, 2026.”
Read the original text (opens in a new tab)AB 2760 vote record (committee and floor roll calls, April 14 to August 31, 2026)Votes of 08/26/26 (Senate Public Safety), 08/27/26 (Senate Appropriations), 08/31/26 (Senate floor and Assembly concurrence)
Why we used this label

The aye vote records support for the bill containing the federal-agent ban. The roll call does not give Sabrina Cervantes's reasons or establish a view on the ban's constitutionality.

Read statementFull case: Can California ban ICE and other federal agents from using electric shock gloves, as AB 2760 does?
Portrait of Sabrina Cervantes

Sabrina Cervantes

Role at the time: California state senator and sponsor of SB 1013

Mixed or conditional

Statement summary

Cervantes proposed limiting ALPR data retention and strengthening access safeguards rather than banning the systems. She criticized unchecked collection and misuse while preserving lawful investigative use.

“protecting the privacy of all Californians, immigrants, and our most vulnerable communities while ensuring law enforcement tools are used responsibly.”
Read the official statement (opens in a new tab)Cervantes' Bill Safeguarding Privacy and Placing Guardrails on Automated License Plate Recognition Clears Assembly Appropriations
Why we used this label

Cervantes objects to unchecked network use but proposes a framework that would allow regulated ALPR systems to continue.

Read statementFull case: Should Flock-style license-plate surveillance networks exist?

A participant is a subject of the case. A speaker has a statement documented in it. A commentator has an opinion or editorial documented in it.

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