Schiff Warns Trump May Try to 'Seize Ballot Boxes' in Midterms

Democratic senator says former president could try to 'subvert the vote' in upcoming elections

Published on Mar. 11, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA) warned that former President Donald Trump may attempt to 'seize ballot boxes' and 'subvert the vote' in the upcoming 2026 midterm elections. Schiff said Trump and his allies are laying the groundwork to interfere with or suppress voting, citing recent subpoenas in Arizona and an FBI raid in Georgia.

Why it matters

Schiff's comments highlight growing concerns about potential threats to election integrity and the peaceful transfer of power in future U.S. elections. As a senior Democratic lawmaker, his warnings carry significant weight and underscore the high stakes involved.

The details

In an interview on MS NOW's 'The Briefing,' Schiff said the subpoenas in Arizona and FBI raid in Georgia are part of an effort by Trump and his supporters to 'establish some kind of phony predicate' to claim the election system is flawed. Schiff believes this could allow them to 'nationalize the elections' and 'outlaw absentee ballots' or 'seize ballot boxes' in the 2026 midterms.

  • The 2026 midterm elections are scheduled for November.

The players

Adam Schiff

A Democratic senator from California who serves on the House Intelligence Committee.

Donald Trump

The former president of the United States who has continued to make unsubstantiated claims of widespread voter fraud in the 2020 election.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“I think the subpoenas in Arizona, America, Maricopa County, the FBI raid in Georgia, this is all trying to establish some kind of phony predicate for them to say that the election system is so flawed, the machines don't work. There's too much fraud and absentee ballots that come November, they can nationalize the elections, they can somehow outlaw absentee ballots, or they can seize ballot boxes and they will have some pretext to do it.”

— Adam Schiff, Senator (MS NOW)

“So this is, I think, part of laying the foundation to interfere with, suppress the vote or ultimately subvert the vote. They understand, as we do in the Democratic Party, that they are likely to get clobbered in the midterms and, you know, they're willing to resort to anything.”

— Adam Schiff, Senator (MS NOW)

What’s next

Schiff and other Democratic leaders have vowed to remain vigilant and fight any attempts to undermine the integrity of future elections.

The takeaway

Schiff's warnings underscore the deep partisan divisions and concerns about the future of American democracy, with the former president and his allies seemingly willing to go to extraordinary lengths to retain power.