Trump’s calls to ‘nationalize’ elections have state, local election officials bracing for tumult

By: Jonathan Shorman

Outlets: Stateline

Published: February 6, 2026

Words: 2,179

Last Updated: 1 week, 2 days ago

Body Text Preview

President Donald Trump’s calls this week to “nationalize” elections capped a year of efforts by his administration to exercise authority over state-run elections. The demands now have some state and local election officials fearing — and preparing for — a tumultuous year ahead.

“I don’t think we can put anything past this administration,” Oregon Democratic Secretary of State Tobias Read told Stateline in an interview. “I think they’re increasingly desperate, increasingly scared about what’s going …

Create a free account to access this story and more

Join Plucky Wire to access full stories, collaborate with newsrooms, and discover content from networks around the world.

Email Us