Theory on Lottery Winner:
What if this $1.9 billion lottery was basically about disbursing funds to all the people who helped with the fraud?
What if, normally, day before election its all in the bag and they know whom to disburse?
What if, this time at last moment, they realised its not in the bag, so they are holding off announcing the winner?
Just spitballing.
When I heard it was in California my first thought was a Pelosi probably had the ticket.