One Vote. One Fight. One Comeback.
In 2021, after being told he lost his City Council race by a single vote, Andre uncovered a story far bigger than his own. With courage and tenacity, he took on the system — exposing a web of voter fraud that ultimately led to a civil court ruling in his favor. A year later, justice prevailed, and he was rightfully sworn into office.
The Votes That Shouldn't Have Counted
After it was reported that I lost the campaign for District 2 Councilperson by one vote, I knew immediately that I wanted to do a recount. During this time, a campaign worker of the current Councilperson —Isaac Galvan, by the name of Kimberly Chouch reached out to one of my campaign workers and informed us via a phone conversation that she and several others committed voter fraud. She then went into detail…take a listen
This was the direction we needed.
With the information Kimberly Chouch provided in that phone call, we entered the recount process with clarity and purpose. We knew exactly what to look for — and we found it.
Multiple ballots were tied to addresses that were either invalid, vacant, or commercial in nature. These weren’t just clerical errors; these were clear signs of voter fraud.
But that wasn’t all.
As we dug deeper, a disturbing voting pattern emerged among the fraudulent ballots: the same candidate for District 2 — Isaac Galvan. The same mayoral candidate — Emma Sharif. And the same city treasurer candidate.
Over and over again, the same names appeared on ballots linked to suspicious or illegal registrations. It was not random — it was coordinated.
In the recording above, you will hear Kimberly Chouch clearly confirm that she and others were not just voting fraudulently, but were told who to vote for. This wasn't democracy in action. This was manipulation.
The Fight for Justice
Once we uncovered undeniable evidence of voter fraud, we took everything — the affidavits, the data, and the recorded call — straight to the District Attorney’s Office.
Three weeks later, the DA’s office indicted Councilperson Isaac Galvan and four others for their roles in the fraud scheme. A criminal case was officially filed against Galvan. It was a major breakthrough — not just for our campaign, but for the integrity of our entire local election system.
But here’s what most people didn’t know: even if Isaac Galvan was found guilty, there was no guarantee I would be appointed to the seat I rightfully won.
According to city rules, if Galvan was removed, the City Council could choose to either:
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Appoint someone of their choosing to the vacant seat, or
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Call for another election — a costly and drawn-out process that could still leave the results open to influence.
That didn’t sit well with me. I didn’t fight this hard just to let the system play games with the will of the voters.
So, we filed a civil case.
It took eight months before the case finally made it to court. During that time, my team personally served subpoenas to as many people involved as we could find. We were thorough. We were relentless.
The trial itself lasted only two days — but the deliberation stretched out for nearly three months.
And then, exactly 365 days from the date of the original election, I received the ruling:
I was officially declared the winner.
I was appointed to the District 2 Council seat I had earned — one full year earlier.
It was justice delayed — but not denied.
Protecting the Vote — For All of Us
Winning the seat wasn’t just about me. It was about every voter who believed their voice mattered — and who trusted that our system would protect their vote.
What happened in this election should never happen again.
This experience exposed the vulnerabilities in our local election system — from voter registration to ballot handling to the lack of immediate safeguards against fraud. It showed how easily a few bad actors can undermine the will of thousands.
But it also showed something else:
That when people stand up, speak out, and demand accountability, justice can prevail.
Elections should never be decided by deception. They should be decided by the people — fairly and freely.
This wasn’t just a victory for one campaign. It was a victory for truth, accountability, and every resident of District 2.
And I will continue fighting to make sure your vote is always protected.
