Senate Democrats press Trump administration to retain all election-related records
Source: The Hill
06/26/26 8:24 AM ET
Senate Democrats led by Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (N.Y.) and Senate Intelligence Committee Vice Chair Mark Warner (Va.) are pressing the Trump administration to preserve all records related to the 2026 midterm election amid concerns that President Trump may attempt to tamper with voting results.
The Democrats are warning of consequences ahead of November and pointing to actions by senior Trump administration officials that they warn are “interfering with state and local control” of federal elections. The lawmakers highlighted Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick’s threat to withhold the delivery of lawful mail-in ballots unless states comply with the administration’s request for states to submit voter lists.
They also raised alarm over “individuals at the Social Security Administration” entering into a “secret agreement to share sensitive data with a partisan advocacy group for partisan political purposes.”. Democrats say these actions are part of a broader effort by Trump allies to “take over” the administration of congressional elections, which they argue is in violation of the Elections Clause of the Constitution.
“We write regarding alarming reports that your agencies have taken or are at risk of taking actions under the guise of election security that are improper or illegal; to warn against such violations; and to ensure you adhere to your obligations, and those of all departments, agencies and sub-agencies under your control, to comply with all federal records preservation laws and agency policies,” Schumer, Warner and other Democrats wrote.
Read more: https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5942077-senate-democrats-donald-trump-administration-2026-election-records/
Link to LETTER (inquiry) (PDF) - https://www.democrats.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/202606.26letterfromsenatorstoadminrepreservationofelectionrecords.pdf
The American public deserve to have confidence that their leaders are acting in good
faith and in accordance with the law. We therefore direct you to preserve all existing and future
records and materials on election-related activities and efforts, including any records regarding
potential election-related misconduct, impropriety, irregularity, or interference. Such records
include, but are not limited to, all meeting agendas and rosters, associated notes, briefing memos,
legal opinions, guidance, advice, communications, and correspondence. Additionally, any
communications on personal messaging accounts, including Signal, social media accounts, and
personal email accounts, that concern government business are subject to the Federal Records
Act and must be preserved.13
Safeguarding information critical to congressional oversight and preserving federal
records is a legal obligation that you and all of your agency employees are required to meet.
Please take all necessary steps to ensure that employees do not delete or destroy any official
government records, including “information created, manipulated, or stored” electronically.14
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