Trump’s Power Grab Targets 2026 Midterms

President Donald Trump is leveraging his executive authority to influence the 2026 midterm elections, aiming to secure Republican control of Congress, raising concerns about democratic integrity. His actions include pushing for redistricting in Republican-led states like Texas to create more GOP-favorable House seats and ordering the Department of Justice to investigate ActBlue, a key Democratic fundraising platform, while demanding voter files from states to probe for ineligible voters.

Trump’s Monday social media post vowed to ban voting machines and mail-in ballots, a method more commonly used by Democrats, despite his own support for mail voting in 2024. These moves, described as unprecedented by experts, echo his 2020 efforts to overturn election results, which culminated in the Capitol assault. “These are actions you see in authoritarian states,” said Ian Bassin of Protect Democracy, highlighting fears of electoral manipulation.

With Republicans holding a slim three-seat House majority, Trump is urging states like Texas, Indiana, and Missouri to redraw congressional maps, a tactic not typically driven by presidential intervention. Texas is set to vote on its map Wednesday, while California Democrats plan counter-redistricting. Stanford’s Larry Diamond warns that such partisan maneuvers could undermine democracy, noting that rigging elections is a step toward autocracy.

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The Justice Department, under Trump’s loyalists, is pressuring at least 19 states for voter data, with California and Minnesota facing legal threats for non-compliance. An earlier executive order requiring proof of citizenship for voter registration has been largely blocked by courts. Despite Trump’s claims of protecting democracy, his baseless fraud allegations, including during a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, fuel skepticism.

The Constitution limits presidential power over elections, which are state-run, and experts like Notre Dame’s Derek Muller note the decentralized system restricts Trump’s influence. However, his administration’s loyalty and lack of 2020’s checks raise alarms. While past election cycles avoided predicted disruptions, the 2026 midterms face heightened scrutiny as Trump’s tactics test democratic norms.

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