President Trump's suggestion that Republicans should "nationalize" elections is his latest threat to reshape the way Americans vote.
The big picture: Trump's comments and an FBI raid of the Fulton County, Georgia, election office renewed concerns the president is seeking retribution over 2020 — and raised alarms about 2026 interference.
- Control of Congress is on the line in this year's critical midterm that could derail Trump's MAGA agenda. Democrats have outperformed Republicans in recent races.
Catch up quick: Trump told podcaster Dan Bongino, the recently departed FBI deputy director, that Republicans should "nationalize" voting.
- "The Republicans should say, 'We want to take over. We should take over the voting.' … In at least many, 15 places, the Republicans ought to nationalize the voting," he said while repeating his false claim he won in 2020.
Between the lines: The U.S. Constitution gives Congress broad authority to override state election rules.
The other side: "Does Donald Trump need a copy of the Constitution?" Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said Monday. "What he's saying is outlandishly illegal."
What they're saying: The White House did not answer Axios' question on what the president meant by "nationalize" voting.
- Press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters Trump was referencing Senate legislation requiring proof of citizenship in federal elections.
- Surrounded by GOP lawmakers Tuesday, he said, "If a state can't run an election, I think the people behind me should do something about it," claiming states are "an agent" for the federal government in elections.
Mail-in voting crackdown
A March executive order tried to overhaul mail-in voting, directing states to reject mail-in ballots received after Election Day and demanding proof of citizenship on a national mail voter registration form.
Flashback: Trump pledged last summer to lead a movement to "get rid of MAIL-IN BALLOTS" and "Seriously Controversial VOTING MACHINES."
- He said he'd sign an executive order bringing "HONESTY" to the midterms, but has yet to do so.
Seizing voter rolls and lawsuits
Trump's Justice Department demanded that states hand over voter registration lists and sued two dozen states that it said did not comply.
- The Brennan Center for Justice has tracked requests for voter lists and other election materials in at least 44 states.
- A federal judge dismissed the government's lawsuit in California, calling its information request "unprecedented and illegal" with a potential "chilling effect" on minority groups. An Oregon judge also dismissed a suit.
The latest: Days after Trump said "people will soon be prosecuted for what they did" in the 2020 election, the FBI raided the Fulton County, Georgia, elections office with national intelligence director Tulsi Gabbard present.
- Fulton Commission Chairman Robb Pitts said the county has been targeted for years for rejecting Trump's "big lie."
Zoom in: Amid the immigration crackdown in Minnesota, Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a letter to Gov. Tim Walz that handing over voter rolls was a condition to ending the chaos. Secretary of State Steve Simons rejected that and said the voter rolls are clean.
Redistricting push
A months-long, hotly charged redistricting war scrambled the 2026 House map.
State of play: Trump set off a chain reaction by pushing Texas to redraw its map to gain GOP seats — a move Democratic-led California countered with its own redistricting.
- In the six states where redistricting efforts are locked in, Republicans are likely to have a net gain of one to four seats, Axios' Kate Santaliz has reported.
The bottom line: As Trump re-litigates his 2020 loss, he's pulling every federal lever to tilt 2026.
Go deeper: Exclusive: DNC warns states on Trump DOJ voter roll request
