President Donald Trump is working to gain unprecedented control of the 2026 U.S. midterm elections through a series of new assertions of presidential power, including firing key leaders of the federal Election Assistance Commission.
Despite polls showing voters favoring Democratic candidates, Trump has said without evidence that the only way Democrats can win is if they cheat and that his efforts are necessary to prevent it. Critics, especially Democratic lawmakers and some judges, say Trump is weaponizing the levers of the federal government, Congress, and the courts to favor his fellow Republicans.
The EAC Firings
Trump fired the two Democratic members of the Election Assistance Commission on July 9, leaving the bipartisan agency without a quorum. The commission’s sole remaining Republican, Christy McCormick, was pushed to resign. A fourth position had already been vacant.
The EAC is the only federal agency devoted solely to election administration. It distributes federal election security grants, maintains the national mail voter registration form, and certifies voting machines.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called the firings “a brazen attempt to seize control of our elections before a single vote is cast”. Former Trump White House attorney Ty Cobb warned the move is “part of a deliberate plan” to “take over part of the referee role for the elections”.
The SAVE America Act
Trump continues to push the SAVE America Act, which would require documentary proof of citizenship when registering for federal elections, photo identification when voting, and sharply restrict mail voting nationwide.
With such a narrow majority, Republicans have been unable to pass the bill without scrapping the Senate filibuster. On July 10, Trump said he would not sign a key housing affordability bill because it did not include the SAVE Act provisions.
Trump has repeatedly pitched the SAVE Act as a way to help Republicans win. At a conference of Republican lawmakers in March, he told his party that passing it would “guarantee the midterms”. In February, he said the changes would mean “We’ll never lose a race”.
Funding Threats and DOJ Pressure
The Department of Homeland Security announced that the federal government will withhold some anti-terrorism and cybersecurity grants — worth up to $1 billion — from states that do not follow Trump’s election rules. The requirements include verifying the citizenship of all registered voters and using hand-marked paper ballots.
The Justice Department sent letters to election officials in all 50 states, warning that knowingly allowing non-citizens to vote could lead to criminal prosecution. Critics say such instances are extremely rare.
The DOJ is also suing states to force them to hand over unredacted voter rolls. At least 16 states have voluntarily complied, while others have taken the DOJ to court. Courts have rejected the DOJ’s efforts more than 10 times.
Courts Push Back
Federal courts have blocked key parts of Trump’s election efforts. One federal judge ruled that Trump lacks the legal authority to compile a national citizen or voter list controlled by the federal government. Another judge ruled that the administration’s voter list using Social Security numbers had supplied inaccurate information to states in an attempt to purge voter rolls.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune has acknowledged intraparty friction over Trump’s demands. The president’s efforts have put him on a collision course with his own party as Republicans want to focus on attacking Democrats.
The Bottom Line
Trump is pushing to gain federal control of the 2026 midterm elections through firings, executive orders, funding threats, and legal pressure. He has fired the Election Assistance Commission’s remaining members, pushed the SAVE America Act, and threatened to withhold federal funding from states that do not comply with his demands. Courts have repeatedly blocked his efforts. Critics say the moves are a “brazen attempt” to seize control of elections. The midterms are less than four months away.
