Sen. Cantwell Warns of Trump Pressure to Nationalize Elections

Washington state Democrat brings secretary of state as guest to State of the Union to protest Republican bill that would increase federal control over elections.

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell, a Washington state Democrat, is bringing her state's secretary of state, Steve Hobbs, as her guest to the State of the Union address to protest President Donald Trump's efforts to exert more federal control over election infrastructure. Cantwell says a Republican-backed bill, known as the SAVE Act, would amount to nationalizing elections, contradicting the Constitution's provision that states administer elections.

Why it matters

Cantwell and Hobbs argue the Republican bill would undermine faith in the electoral process by giving the federal government, including the Department of Homeland Security, more power to determine voter eligibility. They say this could have long-term effects on U.S. democracy by eroding the separation of powers between the states and federal government over elections.

The details

The SAVE Act would require voters to provide a passport or birth certificate to register, involve the federal Department of Homeland Security in elections, and disallow universal vote-by-mail that is popular in Washington, Oregon and other states. Cantwell and Hobbs say the bill presents several provisions that could reduce voter participation, such as the fact that many Americans do not have easy access to a passport or birth certificate.

  • Cantwell will bring Hobbs as her guest to the State of the Union address on Tuesday evening.
  • Trump has been pressuring senators to approve the House-passed SAVE Act.

The players

Maria Cantwell

A Democratic U.S. Senator from Washington state who is protesting President Trump's efforts to exert more federal control over election infrastructure.

Steve Hobbs

The secretary of state for Washington state, who Cantwell is bringing as her guest to the State of the Union address.

Donald Trump

The former President of the United States who has been pressuring senators to approve the SAVE Act, which would increase federal control over elections.

Susan Collins

A moderate Republican Senator from Maine who has shown support for the SAVE Act.

Mike Lee

The Republican Senator from Utah who is the sponsor of the SAVE Act and has suggested adjusting Senate rules to ensure its passage.

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What they’re saying

“I'm not saying that the tariff issue didn't have an impact. I'm not saying it's not horrific that you killed two American citizens who were just trying to express their rights to free speech. But you could upend a lot by changing our election system overnight. I don't know how you recover from that immediately.”

— Maria Cantwell, U.S. Senator (States Newsroom)

“We would be basically saying, 'It's okay for a federal leader … and their agency, Homeland Security, to mess around and determine who's eligible to vote.' The reason the separation of powers exist is … so that you didn't have that federal control, so that people did have faith that they weren't being manipulated by the federal power.”

— Maria Cantwell, U.S. Senator (States Newsroom)

“Vote by mail 'has nothing to do with partisanship. It's about convenience of the voter to be able to take the time to choose the people they want to choose. It's about security, it's about transparency, it's not partisanship.”

— Steve Hobbs, Washington Secretary of State (States Newsroom)

What’s next

Cantwell and Hobbs plan to seek out opportunities at the State of the Union address to try to persuade Republican senators to oppose the SAVE Act.

The takeaway

This issue highlights the ongoing battle over the balance of power between the federal government and states when it comes to administering elections, with Democrats arguing the Republican-backed bill would undermine faith in the electoral process by giving the federal government too much control.