The Political Scene | The New Yorker

Is The 2026 Election Already in Danger?

91 snips
Sep 22, 2025
Mark Elias, a veteran election lawyer known for defending the 2020 results, discusses the looming threats to the integrity of the upcoming elections. He highlights Trump's call for a national ban on mail-in voting and the Justice Department's dubious requests for voter data. Elias expresses concern over 're-gerrymandering' in Texas and the need for Democrats to match the tactics. He warns that upcoming congressional elections may not reflect the public's true voting preferences, urging vigilance against potential rollbacks of democratic norms.
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INSIGHT

President Claims Control Over State Tabulation

  • Donald Trump seeks to control which votes count by claiming states are agents of the federal government.
  • Mark Elias warns this is a literal effort to rig outcomes rather than mere rhetoric.
INSIGHT

Historic Risk To Accurate Tabulation

  • Elias says 2026 risks elections that don't reflect everyone who wishes to vote or have votes tabulated accurately.
  • He frames this as a potential historic rollback of access and accurate tabulation.
ADVICE

Rely On State Authority And Legal Protections

  • States administer elections under the Constitution and the president has no power to run them.
  • Elias implies defenders must lean on state control and legal protections to resist federal overreach.
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