DNC Chair Warns of Trump Power Grab Ahead of Midterms
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- DNC Chair Ken Martin said the party is "planning for everything" ahead of the midterms, warning that "someone trying to hold on to power at all costs" could try to "suppress the vote" despite polling favoring Democrats
- The DNC sued the Trump administration in March after the White House declined to rule out deploying federal immigration agents to polling sites this November
- Democrats have criticized Trump's efforts to crack down on mail-in ballots and request voting records
- California and Virginia voters approved new congressional district lines favoring Democratic candidates, after Trump's push to redraw Texas maps in Republicans' favor
- Florida's redistricting effort heads to a special legislative session next week, with Gov. Ron DeSantis defending a map that could swing 3-5 additional congressional seats to the GOP
- Martin declared Democrats have "outmaneuvered the Republicans" on redistricting, adding "keep messing around and find out"
- House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries cast doubt on the effectiveness of Florida's redistricting, arguing the move will backfire on Republicans
Why it matters: The DNC is simultaneously fighting redistricting in three states and pursuing legal action over federal immigration agents at polling places, with the Florida map alone shifting 3-5 congressional seats. Martin's 'we don't even know what to expect' language shows the party views the midterms as an extraordinary rather than routine election.
