What tools Trump has to challenge the midterms, and what could block him
Election officials fear Trump is laying groundwork to undermine Tuesday's midterm results, but multiple legal and institutional safeguards exist to stop him.
US midterm elections are on Tuesday. All 435 House seats and 35 Senate seats are up for grabs.
More than a dozen election officials from both parties have said they fear President Trump is setting the stage to undermine the results. Seven in ten Americans doubt he will accept the results if Republicans lose.
On paper, the president has little direct power over elections. States run them and Congress sets the rules.
But Trump controls the Department of Justice, FBI, and the Postal Service. He could apply pressure at three points: preventing mail ballots, challenging voter rolls, or blocking certification.
Courts have already blocked his mail ballot order and demanded the DOJ's voter-roll case. If Trump disputes certified results, the final check comes January 3, when Congress swears in the new House.
- 435
- House seats at stake
- 35
- Senate seats at stake
- More than 54 million
- Early votes cast
- 7 in 10
- Americans doubting Trump acceptance
Why it mattersMidterm results will determine whether Democrats can investigate Trump and block his agenda for the next two years.
AustraliaNo direct Australian effect yet, but the stability of US democratic safeguards could influence global politics and Australia's strategic interests.
✓ Claims checked against the source. checked 10 h ago
