President Donald Trump is calling for Republicans to “take over” voting in approximately 15 states and “nationalize” elections, triggering widespread alarm among election officials across party lines.
His recent interview with Dan Bongino has become a flashpoint in an escalating crisis over federal control of state elections.
“The Republicans ought to nationalize the voting,” Trump said during the podcast. “We have states that are so crooked, and they’re counting votes. We have states that I won that show I didn’t win.”
Why it matters
While the White House tried to frame these comments as referring to federal election legislation, Trump doubled down, insisting “the federal government should get involved” in state elections — despite no constitutional basis for such control.
Three major developments
1. The Georgia Raid
- FBI agents seized 2020 ballots and voting records from Fulton County
- Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard was present at Trump’s direction
- Republican officials privately called it a “five-alarm fire” for election integrity
2. DOJ’s Unprecedented Push
- Justice Department sued nearly half of U.S. states for voter rolls
- Seeking to build national voter database
- Reports of pressure tactics, including alleged threats to Minnesota
3. Security Program Dismantling
- No federal Election Day situation room in recent election
- States left vulnerable to cyber and physical threats
How officials are responding
Republican opposition
- Utah Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson: “The things that have been said publicly, frankly, are quite appalling.”
- Kentucky Secretary of State Michael Adams: “The federal government did not create the states; the states created the federal government.”
Democratic alarm
- Maine Secretary Shenna Bellows: “We can’t trust the federal government, and they are now adversaries of the states.”
- Connecticut Secretary Stephanie Thomas: “It feels like the approach is using a sledgehammer when a conversation might suffice.”
New threats to election security
Immediate concerns
- Trump allies discussing ICE presence at polling places
- Cybersecurity support for states severely reduced
Historical context
- Similar to 2020 pre-election rhetoric
- Trump now expresses regret for not seizing voting machines then
What’s at stake
Constitutional crisis points
- States’ constitutional authority over elections challenged
- Federal law enforcement being politicized
- Election security cooperation breaking down
Broader implications
- Eroding public trust in election results
- Threatening bipartisan election administration
- Setting dangerous precedent for federal interference
Bottom line
The United States faces a critical moment as Trump’s push to federalize elections threatens both constitutional norms and election security.
With state officials increasingly viewing Washington as an adversary rather than a partner, the integrity of upcoming elections hangs in the balance.
Key takeaway
This isn’t just about one election — it’s about the future of American democracy’s fundamental structure, where states’ constitutional authority to run elections is being challenged by unprecedented federal intervention attempts.
Our conversation
These themes are at the heart of the latest episode of Politics & Power, where I speak with political analyst Sean Freeder from the University of North Florida. We will discuss:
- The escalating war between states and the federal government over who controls U.S. elections
- Why state officials are fighting back as Trump moves to “nationalize” elections
- What FBI raids, voter-roll demands and ICE agents at the polls could mean for your vote
This week’s “Politics & Power” episode streams live at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday with encores at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. Tuesday on News4JAX+ or watch any time on demand on News4JAX.com, News4JAX+ and our YouTube Channel.