Donald Trump Urges Republicans to Nationalize Elections in 15 Places Ahead of 2026 Midterms

President Donald Trump urged Republicans to “nationalize” elections and to “take over” voting in “at least many, 15 places” in comments that multiple outlets tied to the 2026 midterms.

“Trump doubles down on suggesting federal government 'get involved' in state elections He listed Atlanta, Detroit and Philadelphia after making unfounded fraud claims”

ABC News

In a Monday interview with conservative podcaster and former deputy FBI director Dan Bongino, Trump said, “The Republicans should say, ‘We want to take over,’” and added, “We should take over the voting ... in at least many, 15 places. The Republicans ought to nationalize the voting.”

ABC News

A day later, Trump pressed the point from the Oval Office, telling reporters, “The state is an agent of the federal government during elections. I don't understand why the federal government doesn't handle it itself.”

CBS News reported that Trump also said, “I want to see elections be honest, and if a state can't run an election, I think the people behind me should do something about it.”

ABC News described Trump’s Tuesday remarks as a doubling down, with Trump saying, “Because, you know, if you think about it, the state is an agent for the federal government in elections.”

The remarks were framed by the White House as connected to the SAVE Act, with press secretary Karoline Leavitt telling reporters, “The president believes in the United States Constitution,” while also saying there had been “a lot of fraud and irregularities.”

Multiple outlets anchored Trump’s proposal in a constitutional dispute over who runs elections, emphasizing that the Elections Clause assigns election administration to states.

France 24 said Trump’s statements “run headlong into the American Constitution” and quoted the view that “Wanting to 'take control' of the elections is completely unconstitutional,” adding that “The Constitution gives the president no power over electoral administration.”

Bergen Record

RFI likewise described Trump’s idea as taking responsibility from “algunos estados” and giving it to “el gobierno federal,” citing Justin Levitt of Loyola Law School saying the U.S. Constitution “claramente dice que son los estados los que se encargan de la organización” de las elecciones.

CNN en Español pointed to the Constitution’s Electoral Clause, quoting it as: “The times, places and manner of holding elections for Senators and Representatives shall be prescribed in each state by the legislature thereof,” and said the clause “entrusts state legislatures” with election administration.

CBS News quoted David Becker saying, “The Elections Clause of the Constitution couldn't be any more clear,” and that it “exclude[s] the executive from any power over elections.”

In response to constitutional limits, the White House sought to narrow the meaning of Trump’s remarks, with Leavitt telling reporters that Trump was referring to the SAVE Act, and ABC News reported Leavitt said, “I don't think any rational person who's being honest with themselves would disagree with the idea of requiring citizens of this country to present an ID before casting a ballot in a federal election.”

Trump’s “nationalize” comments landed in the context of federal action in Georgia that multiple outlets described as tied to election-record seizures and investigations.

CNN reported that the comments came “less than a week after the FBI searched an elections office in Fulton County, Georgia,” and said the search was related to a Justice Department effort to seize election records and search for alleged voter fraud in the county.

CNN further said Trump told Bongino, “Now you’re going to see something in Georgia where they were able to get with a court order, the ballots, you’re going to see some interesting things come out.”

CBS News described the FBI’s search as occurring “last week” and said Trump repeatedly claimed without evidence that the 2020 presidential election in Georgia was “rigged” against him.

CBS News also reported that Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard was at the scene and that she “acknowledged facilitating a phone call between FBI agents in Atlanta and the president,” adding that Trump wanted to “thank the agents personally for their work.”

CNN said Gabbard put Trump on the phone with FBI agents involved in the search, with one source saying the conversation consisted of a brief “pep talk.”

Democrats and voting-rights groups condemned Trump’s call to “nationalize” elections as an attempt to undermine election integrity and to shift control away from states.

Fox News quoted Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer saying, “Just a few hours ago, Donald Trump said he wants to nationalize elections around the country. That's what Trump said,” and added, “Does Donald Trump need a copy of the Constitution? What he is saying is outlandishly illegal.”

CBS News

The League of Women Voters issued a statement saying Trump’s rhetoric was “a calculated effort to dismantle the integrity of the electoral system as we know it,” and warned that “By demanding federal intervention in state and local elections, the Trump administration is working overtime to create intimidation, chaos, and confusion.”

The League of Women Voters also framed the proposal as “a dangerous precedent: manipulating who runs elections based on outcomes should alarm every American,” and urged members of Congress to “affirm that this is a constitutional issue.”

In Wisconsin, the Wisconsin Examiner described Trump’s threat in the context of the state’s role in the “fake electors plot,” and quoted John Vaudreuil saying, “I wouldn’t be overly concerned that the president could get anything done that’s directly contrary to the Constitution.”

Yet the same Wisconsin Examiner piece warned that “Sowing distrust in elections takes a toll on clerks and poll workers,” and said Vaudreuil urged support for local election officials and poll workers.

The sources connect Trump’s “nationalize” rhetoric to concrete legislative and enforcement efforts ahead of the 2026 midterms, while also highlighting uncertainty about how far federal involvement could go.

“President Donald Trump called on Republicans to “nationalize the voting” in an interview that aired Monday, as his administration pushes to overhaul election ground rules ahead of the pivotal midterm races this year”

CNN

CBS News said Trump “urged Congress to pass the SAVE Act” and described the bill as requiring “documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote,” while also noting that “It is a crime for noncitizens to vote in federal elections and violators face up to a year in prison.”

CNN

CNN reported that Leavitt said Trump’s comments about taking over the voting in “15 places” were tied to his desire for a voter ID law, and that the White House said the reference was to the SAVE Act, which “would require proof of citizenship to register to vote.”

ABC News described the SAVE Act as a GOP priority, quoting House Speaker Mike Johnson calling it a “top priority,” and said Schumer characterized the remarks as dictator-like while Johnson told reporters, “No, no, no.”

In Wisconsin, the Wisconsin Examiner warned that Trump’s false claims about election fraud could be used to send federal immigration agents to polling places, quoting Doug Poland saying, “Noncitizens generally don’t vote. So it’s a lie,” and adding, “it’s, of course, the lie that they’re going to use as a premise to send, whether it’s ICE or whomever it may be, to polling places.”

The League of Women Voters also framed the stakes as a threat to voter access, stating that the “latest tactic intended to suppress voters, disrupt the voting process, and undermine public confidence ahead of the 2026 midterms.”