As Trump looks to punish foes, Democratic states find ways to push back
Editor’s note: This is the second article in The 50 vs. The One, an occasional series examining the current fraught…
Jonathan Shorman
Articles by Jonathan Shorman
Trump so far failing in quest for power over elections as midterms approach
As President Donald Trump tries to assert power over U.S. elections, he has raged on social media, cajoled Republican lawmakers…
US Supreme Court limits use of race in congressional district remaps, diluting Voting Rights Act
A 6-3 Supreme Court ruling in Louisiana v. Callais has severely weakened Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, opening the door to racial gerrymandering across the South and potentially shifting dozens of congressional seats to Republicans.
Trump’s DOJ sued over campaign to amass data on millions of voters
Common Cause and the ACLU are suing to stop the Justice Department from collecting and sharing sensitive state voter data — including Social Security numbers — with Homeland Security. Ohio is among the states that voluntarily handed over the information.
Trump’s DOJ wants personal voter data for ‘improper purposes,’ Michigan official says
Michigan's secretary of state told a federal appeals court the Trump DOJ's push to obtain voter rolls from 29 states isn't about list maintenance — it's about building a national voter database. No federal judge has yet sided with the administration's demands.
Trump’s SAVE America Act would end voter registration drives nationwide
The SAVE America Act, currently before the U.S. Senate, would effectively eliminate third-party voter registration drives that helped register 2.1 million Americans in 2024 — with critics warning the bill would disenfranchise young, Hispanic, and low-income voters.
Democrats sue to block Trump’s mail ballot order as unconstitutional
The Democratic National Committee, congressional leaders, and several state election officials have filed suit challenging Trump's executive order restricting mail-in voting and directing the creation of a national citizen voter database.
Trump signs order seeking to curb vote-by-mail in bid to control state election laws
President Donald Trump signed a sweeping executive order on Tuesday that attempts to restrict mail-in voting, a White House priority…
How Trump’s expansion of federal power threatens states’ authority
As the U.S. marks its 250th anniversary, the Trump administration's use of funding cutoffs, military deployments, and executive overreach is pushing state-federal relations to a breaking point not seen in modern history.
DOJ confirms voter data sharing with Homeland Security, but denies building national list
The Justice Department confirmed in court it is sending state voter rolls — including driver's license and Social Security numbers — to Homeland Security to search for noncitizen voters, despite having sued 29 states that refused to hand over the data.
Trump’s calls to ‘nationalize’ elections have state, local election officials bracing for tumult
State and local election officials warn that President Trump’s push to nationalize elections and demand voter data threatens state authority, voter privacy, and confidence ahead of the midterms.
USPS says mail-in ballots might not get postmark on same day they’re dropped off
A new U.S. Postal Service postmark rule could affect whether some mail-in ballots are counted in states with Election Day postmark deadlines, as courts consider broader voting rules.
