President Donald Trump suggested Republicans should nationalize voting in certain states to counter perceived election fraud, drawing sharp criticism from Democratic leaders who accused him of plotting to steal the 2026 midterms. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senator Adam Schiff labeled the idea an attempt to subvert elections, despite their past support for similar federal election reforms. The comments come amid Republican concerns over midterm losses.
In a recent interview with former FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino, President Trump warned that without removing illegal immigrants entering under former President Joe Biden's policies, "Republicans will never win another election." He added, "The Republicans should say, ‘We want to take over.’ We should take over the voting, in at least, many, 15 places. The Republicans ought to nationalize the voting."
The White House clarified that Trump referred to states he believes face election fraud issues, noting he has not previously advocated for nationalizing voting. However, the remarks prompted immediate backlash from Democrats during Sunday talk shows on February 8, 2026.
On CNN's "State of the Union," Jeffries opposed related Republican proposals like the SAVE Act, which requires proof of citizenship to vote, arguing it enables voter suppression. "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 said. He emphasized that states, not the federal government, constitutionally manage elections.
Similarly, on ABC's "This Week," Schiff interpreted Trump's words as intent to undermine democracy. "I think he fully intends to subvert the elections. He will do everything he can to suppress the vote," Schiff stated. "He’s prepared to try to take some kind of action to overturn the result, and we really shouldn’t question that."
Critics highlighted irony, as both Jeffries and Schiff backed the 2021 H.R. 1, or "For the People Act," which aimed to expand voting access but was decried by opponents like Hans von Spakovsky as a "federal takeover and nationalization of the running and administration of elections." Von Spakovsky, a senior legal fellow at Advancing American Freedom, called it "one of the worst bills I’ve ever seen," claiming it would ease cheating and restrict speech.
The exchange unfolds against Republican vulnerabilities in the 2026 midterms, where they hold a slim 218-214 House majority and face Democratic overperformance in special elections, such as a 31-point swing in a Texas state Senate race. Trump has no constitutional authority to nationalize elections, though actions like an FBI raid on Fulton County, Georgia's election offices alongside Director of Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard raise concerns about federal overreach.
