Former U.S. Senator Bill Bradley warns that the Trump administration is mounting a campaign to undermine the 2026 midterm elections through executive orders, Justice Department actions, and threats against state and local election officials. He highlights a recent lawsuit attempting to block Alaska's Senate certification and the deployment of federal monitors. Bradley stresses that election regulation belongs to the states and Congress, not the president, and that courts have already blocked these efforts.
Election officials are urged to refuse illegal federal orders, as doing so could expose them to civil or criminal liability. He notes that Abraham Lincoln-era laws prohibit federal interference in elections and that pardons do not cover state law violations. Bradley expresses confidence in election officials' integrity and thanks them for safeguarding democracy.
Source: New York Times Top Stories · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing