With the 2026 midterms approaching, state officials and voters are increasingly anxious that a Democratic wave could prompt President Trump to contest results through legal maneuvers, seizure of voting equipment, or other drastic actions. The critical question: how far might he go, and what could that mean for democratic institutions?
Trump has already directed the Justice Department to send 1,000 so-called election monitors to polling places nationwide. Attorney General Todd Blanche defended the move, insisting that Trump is merely following standard practice, claiming he is doing what every administration has done in recent memory. However, given Trump's persistent refusal to accept the 2020 outcome and his baseless claims of rigged elections, skepticism about his motives is widespread.
Notably, the only individuals convicted of election interference after 2020 were Trump supporters. This irony underscores the disconnect between his rhetoric and reality.
Preemptive Legal Challenges
Trump has already begun laying the groundwork for legal challenges. He ordered Blanche to file a preemptive lawsuit aimed at blocking certification of Alaska's Senate race if incumbent Republican Dan S. Sullivan loses. Alaska uses ranked-choice voting, which allowed a different Dan J. Sullivan, also a Republican, to appear on the general election ballot alongside the incumbent and Democrat Mary Peltola. While ranked-choice voting is controversial, the U.S. Constitution grants states the authority to set election rules, and Alaska's Supreme Court has upheld the alternative Sullivan's ballot placement.
Democrats may have encouraged the alternative Sullivan's candidacy to split the vote, but filing a preemptive challenge sets a dangerous precedent. If successful, it would invite Democratic copycats when they next control the White House.
Voting Machine Seizures
Trump has already confiscated voting machines and ballots in Puerto Rico, Atlanta, and Arizona, searching for evidence of fraud that he has never produced. Such actions disrupt the chain of custody, making certification difficult and potentially throwing election outcomes into doubt. If he repeats this in 2026, especially in blue states, the fallout could be severe.
Military Deployment Concerns
There is also the alarming possibility that Trump might call on the military to intervene if results favor Democrats. Some of his associates recommended this after 2020, and he reportedly considered it seriously. Top military leaders have publicly affirmed the apolitical nature of the armed forces. Former Joint Chiefs Chairman Mark Milley and former Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin stated unequivocally that the military does not arbitrate elections—that role belongs to the judiciary, legislature, and the American people.
The administration has denied plans to deploy troops in case of a blue wave, but Trump told the New York Times in January that he regretted not ordering the National Guard to seize voting machines in three swing states he lost in 2020. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has already taken preliminary steps that worry observers.
State Preparations and Congressional Risks
States are organizing election-response teams, filing lawsuits, and fortifying their processes to prevent irregularities. Trump is less likely to challenge results in red states, except perhaps Alaska, because it would embarrass Republican leaders who oversee those elections. Blue states are a different story.
If Trump contests results in several states, he might pressure congressional Republicans to refuse to seat certain Democratic winners. The Supreme Court has ruled that the House cannot exclude duly elected members unless they fail constitutional qualifications. However, the Trump-aligned Center for Renewing America has proposed a process to exclude democratic socialists, claiming they cannot truthfully take the oath of office.
Such tactics could backfire, alienating voters for years—unless Republicans finally stand up to Trump. While predictions of a constitutional crisis are often premature, Trump's refusal to accept election results and his willingness to take questionable actions could genuinely precipitate one.
For more on Trump's tactics, see Trump's red-state push and accusations of election rigging in Minnesota.
