Top Democrat Issues Stark Warning Over Trump’s Bid to ‘Seize’ Elections
House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries declared on Sunday that Democrats will staunchly oppose any Republican attempts to “nationalize” U.S. elections, framing it as a strategy by Donald Trump to “steal” the upcoming 2026 midterm elections.
This assertion followed Trump’s recent call for the GOP to intervene in elections at a national level. While some conservatives argue that Trump did not advocate for complete federal control, his comments coincided with an FBI raid on an elections center in Fulton County, Georgia, part of an ongoing grand jury investigation.
"What Donald Trump wants to do is try to nationalize the election. Translation: steal it. And we're not going to let it happen,” Jeffries stated emphatically during an interview on CNN’s State of the Union.
During the discussion, co-host Dana Bash pressed Jeffries on his views regarding voter ID laws and the SAVE Act, a proposed federal voter ID requirement. Jeffries and his party oppose this legislation, arguing that states have the constitutional authority to manage their own election processes.
He pointed out that even Democratic strongholds like New York have voter ID requirements, emphasizing, “States are the ones who are empowered to conduct elections and every state should be allowed to decide the best way to proceed to ensure that there’s a free and fair election.” He accused Republicans of blatant voter suppression, asserting that they fear losing if elections are conducted fairly.
As Democrats gear up for November’s midterms, they are optimistic about capitalizing on issues such as high consumer prices and the chaotic mass deportation program led by the Department of Homeland Security.
Recent reports indicate that GOP strategists are increasingly concerned about shifting dynamics in key Senate races, including challenges faced by Sen. Susan Collins in Maine and Republican candidates in Ohio, Georgia, and North Carolina. Complications from a contentious primary in Texas are also troubling party leaders.
Trump’s remarks about federal oversight of state voting systems have raised eyebrows. In a podcast with former deputy FBI director Dan Bongino, he suggested, “The Republicans should say, ‘We want to take over.’ We should take over the voting in at least ... 15 places.”
Later, he reiterated his stance to reporters in the Oval Office, claiming that “the federal government should get involved” in states he perceives as corrupt, specifically mentioning Atlanta.
His 2020 campaign had previously made unfounded allegations of election fraud in Fulton County and Detroit, both cities with significant Black populations and Democratic leadership. Following these comments, Trump’s press secretary claimed he was merely advocating for voter ID requirements.
“What the president was referring to is the SAVE Act,” she stated. “I don’t think any rational person would disagree with requiring citizens to present an ID before casting a ballot.”
However, Democratic Sen. Adam Schiff dismissed this explanation during an interview on ABC’s This Week. “He's prepared to try to take some kind of action to overturn the result,” he warned, suggesting Trump intends to undermine the electoral process.
Regarding the FBI raid in Georgia, Schiff remarked, "All of this is intended to send a message: 'We will not tolerate or accept an election that we lose.'”
Jeffries highlighted various legal challenges Democrats have initiated against the administration, hinting that similar strategies would be employed to counter any federalization attempts by the White House or Justice Department concerning state-run elections.
The administration has remained tight-lipped about the grand jury investigation linked to the raid on Fulton County’s election offices. Speculation has intensified since it was revealed that Trump’s Director of National Intelligence was present during the raid and facilitated communication between FBI agents and Trump.
Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis previously attempted to prosecute Trump and his campaign for alleged fraud and pressure tactics aimed at state officials regarding election certification. Notably, Trump was recorded urging a Georgia official to “find” thousands of votes to alter the election outcome.
