U.S. President Donald Trump delivers the State of the Union address in the House Chamber of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., U.S., February 24, 2026. REUTERS/KEVIN LAMARQUE
President Donald Trump wants a Republican politician in Utah, Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson, to hand over the entire voter registration database — but she is refusing.
“Neither state nor federal law entitles the Department of Justice to collect private information on law-abiding American citizens,” Henderson said in a statement responding to Trump’s lawsuit against Utah and 28 other states. “Utahns can be assured that my office will always follow the Constitution and the law, protect voters’ rights, and administer free and fair elections.”
Trump’s Justice Department continues to claim without evidence that there is widespread voter fraud and they must acquire all states’ voter registration data. Federal judges have dismissed Trump’s lawsuits in California, Georgia, Michigan and Oregon.
Henderson is not alone among state officials condemning Trump’s actions. Nevada Secretary of State Francisco Aguilar (D) described Trump’s claims of noncitizen voting and other kinds of foreign interference as a “red herring” and “non-issue” meant to intimidate voters.
“The only people who should be concerned by this are criminals,” White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said in a statement defending its actions. “Noncitizen voting is a crime. Anyone breaking the law will be held accountable.”
Although the White House has repeatedly threatened to nationalize elections, the president lacks the authority to do so.
“Here is the reality: the president has no authority to run federal elections,” University of Kentucky professor Joshua A. Douglas said. “The Constitution, through the Elections Clause in Article I, Section 4, assigns that power to the states, while allowing Congress to make or alter election regulations. Courts have already blocked the president’s executive order on voter registration rules. Neither an executive order nor presidential bombast can override our decentralized constitutional structure.”
Conservative historian Robert Kagan told CNN’s Christiane Amanpour earlier this month that the GOP is the “party of dictatorship” because it is considering anti-democratic measures to keep Trump in power.
“I am worried, as I have said and others have been pointing out, about whether we will even have free and fair elections in 2026, let alone in 2028,” Kagan told Amanpour. “I think Trump has a plan to disrupt those elections, and I don't think he's willing to allow Democrats to take control of one or both houses as could happen in a free election.”
Sometimes Republicans drop their mask regarding their intentions regarding the midterm elections.
“The writing on the wall,” tweeted Republican Rep. Anna Paulina Luna of Florida in a message tagging Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.). Luna attached a flowchart which showed two paths from “Gain majority” in which, unless Republicans pass the SAVE Act, they lose control of the House.