Democratic Sen. Schiff says Trump intends to ‘subvert’ 2026 midterm elections

Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., mentioned Sunday that President Donald Trump intends to take motion to overturn the results of the 2026 midterm elections ought to Republicans lose seats in Congress.

“I believe [Trump] intends to attempt to subvert the elections,” Schiff instructed ABC Information’ “This Week” co-anchor Jonathan Karl. “And if he loses the vote … he is ready to attempt to take some type of motion to overturn the end result, and we actually should not query that.”

Schiff’s remarks come after Trump continued to escalate his rhetoric surrounding the outcomes of the 2020 election, which the president has falsely claimed was stolen ever since his loss. The FBI raided a Fulton County, Georgia, election workplace and seized ballots from the 2020 election on Jan. 28. Trump misplaced Georgia by lower than 12,000 votes in 2020, and even when he had received the state, it might not have been sufficient to win within the Electoral School.

Within the days because the FBI’s raid, Trump has known as for nationalizing elections and repeatedly claimed with out proof that Democrats cheat to win elections. 

Schiff pointed to Trump’s actions after the 2020 election as proof for the likelihood that he would problem the 2026 outcomes.

“We can’t ignore what they’re telling us they will do, as a result of time and time once more, now we have seen that they are keen to go to extraordinary and lawless lengths,” Schiff mentioned.

As for who might examine any try to query the outcomes of the midterms, Schiff mentioned that he doesn’t belief Republicans in Congress, however does belief the American folks.

“The very best safety now we have is to mobilize the biggest voter turnout in U.S. historical past to so overwhelm the vote … in order that there isn’t any means they will cheat,” Schiff mentioned.

The California senator mentioned that Trump’s actions are on account of what he mentioned is the final unpopularity of his administration’s insurance policies. A Quinnipiac College ballot launched final week pinned Trump’s approval at 37%, with 56% disapproving.

“He hasn’t introduced costs down. There’s chaos and killing in American streets by ICE brokers. The general public has turned in opposition to him,” Schiff mentioned. “His ego can’t stand one other loss.”

As Trump continues his claims of voter fraud, Republicans in Congress hope to move the SAVE America Act, a invoice which might require proof of citizenship to register to vote. If it turns into regulation, it might overhaul voter registration by requiring registrants to look in-person to confirm their citizenship with a passport or beginning certificates, however not a driver’s license. Democrats have raised issues about disenfranchising voters who do not have these paperwork.

Requested by Karl if there could possibly be a compromise between Democrats and Republicans, resembling a regulation requiring a photograph ID to vote, Schiff mentioned he would oppose such a coverage.

“It is nonetheless going to be one thing that disenfranchises folks … that do not have the ID essential to vote, regardless that they’re residents,” Schiff mentioned. “That is one other strategy to merely attempt to suppress the vote.”

A Pew Analysis Middle ballot from August 2025 discovered that 83% of U.S. adults assist requiring a photograph ID to vote — together with 95% of Republicans and 71% of Democrats.

This can be a growing story. Please examine again for updates.