How Trump Can—and Cannot—Still Mess With the Midterms

Key Points:

• Over the past year, former President Donald Trump and his administration have aggressively attempted to undermine election integrity for the 2026 midterms through actions like restricting mail balloting, seizing voting machines, and pressuring election officials to find voter fraud.
• State and local governments, courts, and the American public have so far acted as effective bulwarks against these efforts, successfully blocking attempts such as the USPS mail-ballot rule and DOJ lawsuits to access voter information.
• Potential future threats include seizure of ballots or voting machines during close races, but courts and election officials are being educated to prevent such actions, and voters are encouraged to vote early to avoid disruptions.
• Scenarios involving refusal to seat Democratic winners in Congress are considered unlikely due to political realities and expected public backlash, though voter confidence in election integrity has been significantly eroded by ongoing claims of fraud.
• The author emphasizes the need for continued vigilance and coordinated efforts by courts, states, and citizens to safeguard democracy and hopes that after January 2027, Trump will cease his anti-democracy actions.