Trump's Calls to 'Nationalize' Elections Spark Alarm Among State, Local Officials

Concerns grow over potential federal interference in state-run elections ahead of 2026 midterms

Published on Feb. 7, 2026

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President Donald Trump's recent calls to 'nationalize' elections have state and local election officials across the country bracing for potential federal interference in their election processes. Trump's demands, which include taking control of voter rolls and vote counting, have raised alarm bells about the administration's efforts to exert authority over state-run elections, which are constitutionally delegated to the states.

Why it matters

The Constitution clearly assigns the responsibility for running elections to the states, not the federal government. Trump's calls to 'nationalize' elections represent a fundamental violation of this constitutional principle and could lead to a tumultuous year ahead as state and local officials work to protect the integrity of their election processes from potential federal overreach.

The details

Since last year, the Trump administration has engaged in a wide-ranging effort to influence how elections are run, including demanding unredacted voter rolls from states and deploying federal law enforcement near polling places. Now, Trump's recent remarks calling for Republicans to 'nationalize' elections and have the federal government take over voting in at least 15 places have state and local officials concerned about how this could affect their preparations for the 2026 midterm elections.

  • In March 2025, Trump signed an executive order attempting to impose a requirement that voters prove their citizenship in federal elections.
  • On January 24, 2026, Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi sent a letter to Minnesota's governor demanding the state provide its full, unredacted voter rolls to the Justice Department.
  • On January 30, 2026, the FBI seized ballots from an elections warehouse in Fulton County, Georgia.

The players

Tobias Read

Oregon's Democratic Secretary of State, who said the Trump administration is 'increasingly desperate' and that state officials must be 'prepared for everything'.

Shenna Bellows

Maine's Democratic Secretary of State, who said she would mail the White House a pocket Constitution because 'it seems they've lost their copy'.

Scott McDonell

The Democratic clerk in Dane County, Wisconsin, who said the potential for federal law enforcement presence on Election Day is factoring into his office's planning.

Barb Byrum

The Democratic clerk in Ingham County, Michigan, who said election officials are now having to prepare for 'the president of the United States meddling in elections'.

Brad Raffensperger

Georgia's Republican Secretary of State, who has refused to aid Trump's efforts to overturn the 2020 election results and now faces pressure from state lawmakers to provide voter data to the Justice Department.

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What they’re saying

“I don't think we can put anything past this administration. I think they're increasingly desperate, increasingly scared about what's going to happen when they are held accountable by American voters. So we have to be prepared for everything.”

— Tobias Read, Oregon Democratic Secretary of State (Stateline)

“Oh, hell no. I'll mail the White House a pocket Constitution, because it seems they've lost their copy.”

— Shenna Bellows, Maine Democratic Secretary of State (Social media)

“The taking of democracy does not occur in one fell swoop; it is chipped away piece by piece until there is nothing left. The case before the Court is one of these cuts that imperils all Americans.”

— U.S. District Court Judge David O. Carter (Court decision)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow the Justice Department to obtain unredacted voter rolls from California and other states.

The takeaway

Trump's calls to 'nationalize' elections represent a direct challenge to the Constitution's clear delegation of election administration to the states. State and local officials are now having to divert resources to prepare for potential federal interference, raising concerns about the integrity of the 2026 midterm elections and the future of American democracy.