Election scrutiny heats up with midterms fast approaching
Image: Jeff Chiu
The Trump administration has recently increased its scrutiny of election procedures in several states, as the countdown to Election Day (next Tuesday) reaches less than one week.
On Monday, the Justice Department asked Washington state to set aside ballots from 400+ registered voters they say have illegally registered to vote without US citizenship.
The request follows a similar lawsuit this month involving up to 20,000 California voters, which the state is challenging in court.
Meanwhile, in Alaska: The DOJ sued the state last week to potentially delay certification of Alaska's Senate election if the Republican candidate loses, citing concerns that voters could confuse incumbent GOP Sen. Dan S. Sullivan and retired teacher Daniel J. Sullivan Jr, a third-party candidate.
- Republicans accuse the teacher of entering the race to confuse voters and draw support away from the incumbent, an allegation denied by both the teacher and Senate candidate Mary Peltola (D).
- Alaska's Supreme Court previously ruled that the teacher could appear on the ballot, distinguishing the two candidates by identifying the incumbent's party and office.
What each side is saying
The administration argues that its expanded election scrutiny is about enforcing federal laws and ensuring that only eligible US voters are casting ballots. Attorney General Todd Blanche maintains that the DOJ's actions are guided by evidence, while the White House has pledged to hold anyone who votes illegally accountable.
- Critics argue that the DOJ is increasingly serving the president's political interests rather than acting independently, and also questioned the evidence supporting its election-related efforts and whether the federal government has the authority to intervene.
- In Alaska, election officials have asked a federal judge to dismiss the DOJ's lawsuit, arguing that it lacks a legal basis and that investigating voters' intentions could violate ballot secrecy.
Midterm polling update: Democrats lead Republicans 51.6% to 43.3% on the generic congressional ballot, according to RealClearPolitics’ polling aggregator.
Some ~35 million Americans and counting have already cast ballots in the midterms, per the University of Florida Election Lab's early-voting tracker.
📊 Flash poll: With Election Day less than a week away, which political party’s candidate for Congress do you plan to vote for (or already voted for) in the midterms?
See a 360° view of what pundits are saying →
Sprinkles from the Left
- Some commentators note that the 2026 election season has brought an unusually harsh level of political hostility, with personal attacks, threats, and heated disputes spilling into local races. They argue that while disagreements are a normal part of elections, the growing bitterness is damaging relationships and communities, and Americans need to remember that political differences shouldn't come at the expense of treating each other with respect.
- Others contend that President Trump's efforts to interfere with the 2026 midterms could threaten more than just American democracy, potentially shaking investor confidence and hurting the economy. They argue that business leaders and public officials need to take these threats seriously and work together to protect free and fair elections before any attempts to disrupt or overturn the results.
- “Election fuels regrettable actions, words” –Port Charlotte Sun Editorial Board
- “In Six Decades of Public Life, I Never Thought I Would Write This Piece” –Robert E. Rubin, NY Times
- “Trump has circuses, but voters also want bread” –The Guardian Editorial Board
Sprinkles from the Right
- Some commentators argue that Democrats are overreacting to the Trump administration's lawsuit over Alaska's Senate election, which they see as an attempt to protect voters from potential confusion rather than interfere with the results. They argue that concerns about election interference should be evaluated fairly, regardless of which party is accused of trying to influence the outcome.
- Others contend that America's midterm elections are one of democracy's greatest strengths, giving voters a chance to hold leaders accountable and change course when things aren't working. They argue that while elections can be messy and divisive, they provide a peaceful way to correct political mistakes and prevent the kind of unchecked power seen in countries like China, where citizens can't vote their leaders out of office.
- “Election interference? Sullivan versus Sullivan” –Las Vegas Review-Journal Editorial Board
- “The brilliance of U.S. elections” –Miles Yu, Washington Times
- “The Midterm Election and a Foreign Policy in Disarray” –John Bolton, WSJ
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