David Becker Discusses Election Integrity and Presidential Authority on "Face the Nation"
In a recent interview, David Becker, the Executive Director of the Center for Election Innovation and Research, shared insights on the current state of U.S. elections and the implications of presidential actions. The discussion aired on February 8, 2026, and highlighted significant concerns regarding election integrity.
“It’s great to be back with you,” Becker remarked as he joined the program. Margaret Brennan quickly shifted the conversation to pressing issues raised by Senator Warner, who expressed worries that President Trump might be attempting to undermine the upcoming elections. The President's recent tweets, which labeled American elections as “rigged” and “stolen,” were also a focal point of concern.
Becker responded, “It’s very hard to predict where this is going,” but he noted alarming trends. He pointed out that the President had signed an unprecedented executive order aimed at influencing state election policies, which has faced legal challenges from multiple federal courts. “His Department of Justice is pursuing sensitive data on millions of voters and has initiated lawsuits against 24 states and D.C.,” Becker explained, emphasizing that courts have blocked these actions.
Transitioning to the constitutional implications, Becker stated, “This is unprecedented. We have never seen a president try to exert executive authority over elections in this manner.” He underscored that the Constitution grants states the power to manage their own elections, a principle that has been upheld by courts.
Brennan interjected with a clip of President Trump advocating for nationalizing voting procedures in several states. “What would prevent the president from doing something unconstitutional?” she asked. Becker highlighted the judiciary's role in maintaining checks on executive power, referencing a recent Oregon court ruling that denied access to sensitive voter data.
As the conversation shifted to disinformation surrounding election security, Becker criticized misleading narratives about voting technology. “This is a common tactic among those spreading lies about elections,” he said, dismissing claims about anomalies in vote counting as unfounded. He reiterated that 98% of Americans vote using paper ballots, which are verifiable against machine tallies.
“2020 was the most scrutinized election in American history,” Becker asserted, countering claims of rigging. He noted that every legal challenge regarding election integrity has been met with thorough examination and upheld by courts.
Brennan raised questions about FBI involvement in ballot retrieval in Georgia, seeking clarity on the rationale behind such actions. Becker responded, “There was no crime committed in 2020,” emphasizing that extensive reviews confirmed Biden's narrow victory in Georgia.
“The presence of high-level officials during a search warrant execution raises questions,” Becker continued, addressing inconsistencies in explanations regarding the Director of National Intelligence's involvement. “We have no idea what actually happened,” he concluded, highlighting the lack of transparency surrounding these events.
As the interview wrapped up, Brennan noted that several Trump administration officials had cast doubt on the integrity of the 2020 election. Becker thanked her for the discussion, leaving viewers with critical insights into the ongoing debate over election integrity and presidential authority.
