SLO County woman guilty of 9 election fraud charges

September 21, 2026

Gaea Powell

By KAREN VELIE

A San Luis Obispo County jury on Monday found Gaea Powell guilty of nine counts – eight felonies and one misdemeanor – for election fraud committed during the 2022 and 2024 Arroyo Grande mayoral races. Powell is scheduled for sentencing on Oct. 19.

SLO County Superior Court Judge Timothy Covello told Powell to surrender or sell any firearms, to surrender her passport and to check in with probation within 24 hours. Covello then ordered Powell not to threaten or harass five of the witnesses in her case.

Following a ten-day trial, the jury found Powell guilty of: voter registration fraud on July 12, 2022, perjury by declaration on July 18, 2022, filing false nomination or declaration papers on Aug. 8, 2022, failure to provide written notification under the Political Reform Act on Oct. 10, 2022, fraudulent voting in the Nov. 8, 2022 election, fraudulent voting in the March 5, 2024 election, perjury by declaration on July 16, 2024, filing false nomination or declaration papers on Aug. 1, 2024, and fraudulent voting in the Nov. 5, 2024 election.

On July 12, 2022, Powell registered to vote using an address on James Way inside the Arroyo Grande city limits even though she lived on Heritage Lane in the county. She then filed nomination papers and a declaration of candidacy.

In another declaration filed under penalty of perjury on July 16, 2024, and in nomination papers filed Aug. 1, 2024, Powell also claimed she lived in Arroyo Grande while living in the county. Using ballots issued to the James Way address, she voted in the Nov. 2022, March 2024, and Nov. 2024 elections. She also failed to properly report income and campaign expenditures.

Under California law, a person may register and vote only at his or her domicile, meaning the place where the person’s habitation is fixed and to which the person intends to return. A person may have only one domicile at a time.

Powell represented herself at trial after waiving her right to counsel. In closing argument, Deputy District Attorney Ben Blumenthal told the jury, “This is not about left versus right or right versus left. This is about what is right and wrong.”

District Attorney Dan Dow said he was grateful for the hard work the jury put in.

“This case is about accountability under the law for everyone, so that voters can have more trust in the election process,” Dow said. “The integrity of our elections is paramount.

“This verdict makes clear that voters must register to vote in accordance with the law, and that potential candidates must be lawfully registered to vote in the jurisdiction where they intend to run for public office. Justice is blind. The law applies to everyone, no matter their status in the community and no matter their political affiliation, and every defendant will be treated fairly by this District Attorney’s Office.”

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