Democratic Sen. Schiff warns Trump may try to 'subvert' 2026 midterm elections

Schiff says Trump is prepared to take action to overturn election results if Republicans lose seats in Congress.

Published on Feb. 8, 2026

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Democratic Sen. Adam Schiff of California said on Sunday that he believes former President Donald Trump intends to try to overturn the results of the 2026 midterm elections if Republicans lose seats in Congress. Schiff cited Trump's continued false claims of voter fraud in the 2020 election as evidence that the former president may challenge future election results.

Why it matters

Schiff's warning highlights the ongoing concerns about the integrity of U.S. elections and the potential for political leaders to undermine democratic processes. The 2026 midterms will be a crucial test for American democracy, and Schiff's comments suggest that the threat of election subversion remains a serious issue.

The details

In his interview on ABC News' "This Week," Schiff said he believes Trump "intends to try to subvert the elections" and is "prepared to try to take some kind of action to overturn the result" if Republicans lose ground in Congress. Schiff pointed to Trump's continued false claims about the 2020 election as evidence that the former president may challenge future election outcomes.

  • On January 28, 2026, the FBI raided a Fulton County, Georgia, election office and seized ballots from the 2020 election.

The players

Sen. Adam Schiff

A Democratic senator from California who serves on the Senate Intelligence Committee and has been a vocal critic of former President Trump.

Donald Trump

The former president of the United States who has continued to make false claims about the 2020 election being "stolen" from him.

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What they’re saying

“I think [ Trump ] intends to try to subvert the elections. And if he loses the vote ... he's prepared to try to take some kind of action to overturn the result, and we really shouldn't question that.”

— Sen. Adam Schiff (ABC News)

What’s next

The 2026 midterm elections will be a crucial test for American democracy, and Schiff's warning suggests that the threat of election subversion remains a serious issue that will need to be closely monitored and addressed.

The takeaway

Schiff's comments highlight the ongoing concerns about the integrity of U.S. elections and the potential for political leaders to undermine democratic processes. The 2026 midterms will be a crucial test, and Schiff's warning suggests that the threat of election subversion remains a serious issue that will need to be closely watched.