Table of Contents
- Trump’s Election Deniers Are Now in Power
- Dismantling Voting Security Infrastructure
- What This Means for the 2026 Midterms
- Expert Reactions and Warnings
- Sources
Trump’s Election Deniers Are Now in Power
In a move that has alarmed voting rights advocates and election security experts, former President Donald Trump has placed several high-profile election deniers into key federal positions. This strategic staffing shift fuels growing concerns that the administration is laying the groundwork to influence or even control the outcome of the 2026 midterm elections.
Among the most notable appointments is Heather Honey, a prominent figure in the election denial movement. Honey, who previously led the ‘PA Fair Elections’ group known for pushing false claims about voting machines, has been given a federal role that will help oversee election security nationwide . Her appointment is not an isolated incident but part of a broader pattern.
Reports also indicate that an election denier was sworn in as an FBI official as recently as February 2025 , signaling a deep infiltration of these beliefs into core institutions responsible for upholding democratic integrity.
Dismantling Voting Security Infrastructure
Beyond staffing, the Trump administration has actively worked to dismantle systems built to protect election integrity. A controversial executive order issued in early 2025 sought to centralize election oversight under federal control—a move critics called “illegal” and a direct threat to state-run election systems .
This order, along with other policy shifts, appears designed to replace nonpartisan election safeguards with personnel and protocols sympathetic to Trump’s unfounded grievances about the 2020 election. The administration has also targeted agencies like CISA (Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency), which previously played a critical role in defending elections from disinformation and cyber threats .
What This Means for the 2026 Midterms
The implications for the upcoming 2026 midterms are profound. With election deniers now embedded in federal agencies, there are fears that legitimate election results could be challenged or even overturned based on manufactured claims of fraud.
Experts warn that false narratives—such as the baseless idea of widespread noncitizen voting—could be weaponized to justify rejecting results in key districts . This strategy mirrors efforts seen after the 2020 election but is now institutionalized through official appointments and policy changes.
Expert Reactions and Warnings
State election officials and democracy watchdogs have expressed deep concern. “President Trump is a notorious election denier,” said one legal analyst, adding that his administration lacks the constitutional authority to unilaterally alter election administration but is proceeding anyway .
Organizations monitoring democratic backsliding point to initiatives like “Project 2026″—a coordinated effort led by former Trump allies including Cleta Mitchell, who played a central role in the January 6th post-election pressure campaign—as evidence of a long-term plan to reshape election oversight .
Sources
- The New York Times: Trump Empowers Election Deniers, Still Fixated on 2020 Grievances
- Associated Press and Reuters reports on Trump administration appointments and executive orders (2025)
