- President Donald Trump suggested this week elections in cities like Detroit should be run by the federal government
- Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, other Democrats slammed Trump for the suggestion, unfounded allegations of election corruption
- The US constitution leaves the running of elections to states but allows Congress to issue regulations
LANSING — Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and other Democrats on Wednesday raised alarms over President Donald Trump’s suggestion federal authorities should take oversight of state elections.
Multiple times this week, Trump said he thinks federal authorities should “nationalize” elections by taking over in Detroit and other parts of the country where he claimed there was “horrible corruption.”
“The federal government should get involved,” said Trump, who has repeatedly claimed, without evidence, that Michigan’s largest city has been an epicenter of election fraud.
“If they can’t count the votes legally and honestly, then somebody else should take over,” the president added.
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Critics contend federal takeover of elections currently run by states would be unconstitutional.
“It won’t happen on my watch,” Whitmer said Wednesday in a statement.
“Any attempt by the federal government to take over Michigan elections should be viewed as an attempt to take away Michiganders’ constitutional right to vote,” she added.
The US Constitution specifies that states have the power to dictate the “times, places and manner” of elections for members of the US House and Senate but gives Congress the power to enact regulations.
The Voting Rights Act permits the Department of Justice to monitor elections to protect voting rights, but the federal government does not have the authority to control the ballot process or counting of votes.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on Tuesday attempted to walk back election nationalization comments Trump made on a recent podcast, claiming he was referring to Congressional legislation that would require proof of citizenship to vote in federal elections.
But later the same day, Trump again suggested Congress should act to exert control over state-run elections.
Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, appearing on CNN on Tuesday night, said Trump’s remarks feel like an effort to deter us from holding him accountable at the ballot box, either this fall or in 2028.”
“Elections are run by the states. We do it very well with integrity, securely and effectively, time and time again, and we invite everyone to look at the transparent evidence that reinforces that fact,” added Benson, a Democrat who is running for governor.
While some Michigan Republicans have already urged federal oversight of upcoming fall elections in the state, the reaction to Trump’s latest comments was more muted.
Former Michigan Gov. John Engler, a Republican, told reporters at an event Wednesday that federalizing elections was “not going to happen.”
House Speaker Matt Hall, a Richland Township Republican, demurred when asked about the prospect of the federal government attempting to take over state elections.
“I’d have to look and see specifically what he called for because I didn’t see it,” Hall said, going on to criticize election administration under Benson.
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