Debate grows over federal government's role in Michigan elections

By Alyssa Burr for the Michigan Independent.

Broadcast version by Chrystal Blair for Michigan News Connection reporting for the Michigan Independent-Public News Service Collaboration

Michigan Democrats are ready to defend against potential federal interference by President Donald Trump and other Republicans in the state’s 2026 elections, according to the state party chair.

In an interview with the Michigan Independent, Michigan Democratic Party chair Curtis Hertel Jr. condemned comments Trump made earlier this month accusing states of running “crooked elections” and calling for a federal response.

Hertel said that any federal involvement in Michigan elections would be a violation of the U.S. Constitution and that the courts and voter rights awareness would be essential tools to prevent any possible federal government overreach.

“This is an attack on our democracy,” Hertel said. “We’ve had free and fair elections in Michigan, and whether we’re in courts or by Senate Republican hearings, they have proven over and over again that there was no widespread fraud, and that the elections were fair.”

Trump first said Republicans should take over and “nationalize” voting in an interview with Dan Bongino, a right-wing podcaster, on Feb. 2. The next day, during a press opportunity at a bill-signing ceremony in the Oval Office, the president further criticized how states run their elections.

Responding to a reporter’s question about his previous call for nationalizing voting, Trump said: “Go to 2020. Look at the facts that are coming out. Rigged, crooked elections. Take a look at Detroit. Take a look at Pennsylvania. Take a look at Philadelphia. You go take a look at Atlanta. Look at some of the places that — horrible corruption on elections. And the federal government should not allow that.”

Trump offered no evidence to support the claims he made during the bill signing. He has falsely stated for years that election fraud in Michigan and other states contributed to his 2020 presidential election loss to Joe Biden. A 2021 Michigan Senate report, conducted by the upper chamber’s Republican majority at the time, found no evidence of widespread or systematic fraud.

Federal intervention in state elections would violate the Elections Clause contained in Article 1 of the U.S. Constitution, which says that state legislatures are responsible for creating the rules for congressional elections. Under the clause, Congress retains the ability to change those rules by passing federal laws. Article 2, Section 1 of the Constitution gives states the power to determine how they appoint presidential electors.

Over the last year, the Trump administration has already tried to intervene in the election administration of Washington, D.C. and 24 states, including Michigan: The Department of Justice filed suit to obtain unredacted copies of their voter rolls. A federal judge dismissed the lawsuit against Michigan earlier this month, ruling federal law doesn’t require the state to disclose voters’ private data. Courts in California and Oregon have also rejected the Justice Department’s lawsuits. Other cases remain pending.

“They’ve already lost the first round of this,” Hertel said.

The Michigan Democratic Party also operates a full-time voter protection program, which Hertel said will ensure every voter has their voice heard in the election. The program focuses on voter education, poll observers, voter assistance, post-election monitoring and data management.

Many of the state’s top Democratic officials condemned Trump’s comments regarding federalizing state elections.

In a Feb. 4 press release, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said any move by the federal government to take over Michigan’s elections should be considered an attempt to take away Michiganders’ right to vote, and emphasized her commitment to preventing that from happening.

“We certify the accurate results, no matter who wins, and we wish the next officeholder the best of luck as they seek to bring people together and lead us forward,” Whitmer said. “That’s what we do in Michigan, and it ought to be how we do things across the nation. This November, Michiganders will work together once again to run another safe, secure election. We will do our constitutional duty, without interference. We will honor the results. And we will move forward together.”

Republican state officials have yet to comment publicly on the possibility of the federalization of Michigan’s elections. Senate Minority Leader and gubernatorial candidate Aric Nesbitt released a statement echoing Trump’s call for federal monitoring, claiming that Democratic Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson has a conflict of interest in overseeing the state’s elections while simultaneously running for governor.

Last November, Nesbitt and other Republican lawmakers made similar claims in a letter sent to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi requesting the Department of Justice send official election monitors to provide “comprehensive oversight” of the state’s primary and general elections.

Michigan has a highly decentralized election system with over 1,600 Republican, Democratic and independent local clerks. Boards of county canvassers certify local election results, while the bipartisan Board of State Canvassers certifies the results of statewide races.

In her role as secretary of state, Benson is the state’s top election officer, which means she supervises local officials throughout the election process.

Hertel called the letter a “ridiculous attack” because every election official throughout the state’s history has had to manage an election with themselves on the ballot.

Janice Winfrey has been Detroit’s city clerk for over 20 years. Winfrey said in a statement posted to her Instagram account Feb. 4 that the Wayne County Board of Canvassers has commended the Detroit Department of Elections for improvements in election administration and election result accuracy.

“These acknowledgements reflect the professionalism, diligence, and integrity of the election staff who serve the voters of Detroit,” Winfrey said. “The Department remains committed to continuous improvement, transparency, and maintaining public confidence in the electoral process.”

Detroit has long been a Democratic stronghold, as well as a target of Trump’s ire. Trump won 8% of the city’s vote in 2024 against Democratic candidate Kamala Harris’ 90%. Trump won the statewide vote that year by a slim 1.4% margin.

Hertel said he believes that, by preemptively delegitimizing state-run elections, Trump is positioning himself to make voter fraud claims in the event that Republicans lose this fall. Republicans have had control of the House of Representatives, the Senate and the White House since 2024, which has allowed Trump to push through his agenda, including funding cuts to popular safety net programs.

“They’re scared because they know that the American people are going to hold them accountable,” Hertel said. “And certainly Michigan is ready to be part of that, and certainly Detroit’s ready part of that as well. And so he’s afraid that he’s going to lose the election. He should be afraid, but that doesn’t mean he gets to change the rules of the game, and we plan on standing up for the rule of law and for people’s rights to vote.”

Alyssa Burr wrote this article for the Michigan Independent.

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