David Axelrod, a veteran Democratic strategist, sounded alarms on Friday that President Donald Trump’s abrupt dismissal of the remaining Democratic members of the Election Assistance Commission (EAC) could be a prelude to election interference in the upcoming midterm elections. The move, which occurred Thursday, has intensified concerns among Democrats about the integrity of the 2026 electoral process.
“All the signals are flashing red, the latest being @POTUS’s summary dismissal of the remaining Federal Election Assistance Commission members,” Axelrod wrote in a social media post, referencing Trump’s action. The EAC, a bipartisan body established in 2002, is tasked with helping voters participate in elections and assisting election officials. Republican member Christy McCormick also resigned on Thursday, leaving the commission effectively defunct.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) condemned the firings as a “brazen attempt to seize control of our elections.” In a statement, he declared, “Senate Democrats will fight this power grab at every turn. The American people — not Donald Trump — will decide the 2026 election.” This echoes broader Democratic concerns about Trump’s efforts to reshape election oversight, as detailed in Schumer’s accusation of a power grab following the EAC firings.
The White House defended the president’s actions, stating that Trump “reserves the right to remove individuals that may not be totally aligned with the important task of securing America’s elections and ensuring every legal vote is counted.” This justification comes amid Trump’s persistent false claims of widespread voter fraud in the 2020 election, which he lost to former President Joe Biden, and his ongoing directive to investigate voting records from that contest.
Beyond the EAC firings, Axelrod highlighted several other Trump actions that he argues undermine electoral integrity. These include the controversial appointment of Bill Pulte as acting director of National Intelligence, an executive order targeting mail-in ballot voting, and what Axelrod called Trump’s “pathological prioritization” of the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act (SAVE Act). The SAVE Act would require proof of citizenship for voter registration and a photo ID to cast a ballot, which Axelrod described as “the most powerful voter suppression tool in generations.” This legislation has become a flashpoint, with Trump demanding the Senate pass the SAVE Act as part of his broader agenda.
Axelrod’s warning comes amid a volatile political landscape, with the midterms approaching. He argued that Trump’s unpopularity would likely hurt Republicans at the polls, prompting the president to pursue alternative strategies. “On the square, the @GOP would take a beating this fall, largely because of Trump’s unpopularity,” Axelrod posted on X. “So he’s setting up Plan B—do whatever you need to do to win. Anything. Anyone who says ‘Well, he wouldn’t do THAT’ hasn’t paid attention. He’s already proven he will!”
Axelrod predicted that the fallout from the midterm elections could be “even more turbulent,” adding, “The courts are going to be very busy this fall.” This sentiment reflects the growing legal battles expected over election procedures, including those involving prediction markets and election-related betting, which have drawn regulatory scrutiny.
The developments underscore a deepening partisan divide over election administration, with Democrats accusing Trump of systematically dismantling safeguards while Republicans argue they are necessary to prevent fraud. As the midterms draw nearer, the EAC firings are likely to become a central issue in the broader debate over democratic integrity.
