Election lawyer warns Trump is already undermining 2026 midterms
Top election attorney Marc Elias says Donald Trump has set in motion actions that will make the 2026 midterm elections less free and fair.
Election specialist Marc Elias, founder of the Democracy Docket, warned that Donald Trump has already put in place a cascade of legal and procedural moves that threaten the integrity of the 2026 midterm elections. Elias cited recent victories such as the Supreme Court’s block of an illegal Missouri gerrymander and a setback that stopped the SAVE database from being implemented, alongside numerous other lawsuits. He said the Trump administration and its supporters are intensifying these actions, creating a “continuum” of election-undermining tactics.
Elias argued that rapid, successful court challenges are essential to preserve a free and fair vote, and that a decisive Democratic win in both chambers could demoralize further subversion attempts. Constitutional law professor Justin Levitt countered, claiming Trump lacks real control over election systems and that the greatest danger is the public’s belief in his imagined power. Levitt warned that this perception could lead voters to disengage or self-censor, though he doubts it will materialise.
