Senate Democrats met privately last week for two hours to plan responses to possible interference by the Trump administration in the upcoming midterm elections. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer from New York organized the meeting, bringing together nearly a dozen senators for the second in a series of tabletop exercises. These exercises focused on scenarios that could disrupt the voting process, such as AI-generated videos spreading misinformation and the deployment of National Guard or immigration agents near polling locations.
Schumer emphasized the importance of preparation, stating, “What these so-called tabletop exercises teach us is when you’re prepared in advance, you can stop a lot of bad, bad things from happening, a lot of the stealing that he will do.” This preparation stems from concerns about former President Trump, who has never acknowledged his loss to President Joe Biden in 2020, leading to the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021.
Schumer’s office noted that this latest exercise was prompted by Trump’s recent address on election integrity. Democratic election lawyer Marc Elias, who participated in these closed-door sessions, clarified the intent behind the exercises. “What we’re doing is preparing for the fact that Donald Trump, in 2020, lied about the election in advance, lied about it in the aftermath, went to court, and then he instigated a violent insurrection in this very building,” Elias explained.
Local authorities’ responses were also examined if federal immigration agents appeared near polling places in states like Texas. Schumer proposed collaboration with local police departments to prevent such occurrences.
In response to Trump’s claims, all 24 sitting Democratic governors through the Democratic Governors Association issued a joint statement, highlighting their readiness to protect voters’ rights. “It’s deeply alarming that President Trump continues to try to undermine free and fair elections,” the governors stated.
Rick Hasen, a professor at the University of California, Los Angeles, pointed out that the president has no legal authority to cancel or postpone a federal election. Concerns remain that the Trump administration might attempt other actions, such as deploying troops near polling stations.
Ari Mittleman, head of the nonpartisan group Keep Our Republic, acknowledged threats that could cause confusion and delay certification. He pointed out that local jurisdiction over elections makes altering outcomes difficult due to numerous safeguards.
Barbara McQuade, law professor at the University of Michigan, identified voter suppression as a significant risk. She described tactics such as using rhetoric and legal measures to complicate voting for Democratic voters.
Polling shows mixed confidence in the integrity of the upcoming elections. A Yahoo News and YouGov survey revealed only 23% of Americans are confident the midterm elections will not be “rigged.” Meanwhile, a separate poll by NPR, PBS News, and Marist found 66% confidence in fair state or local election administration, though this represents a decline from prior years.
The role of governors, secretaries of state, and attorneys general is critical as these positions oversee or certify elections. States United Action reported many candidates with disputed views on the 2020 election, indicating a growing concern about election integrity across states.
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