Senate GOP’s Thune Rejects Trump’s Call to ‘Nationalize’ Elections
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, a Republican from South Dakota, has firmly rejected President Donald Trump’s call to nationalize elections. Thune stated, “I’m not in favor of federalizing elections,” emphasizing that such matters are constitutional issues that should be left to the states.
Thune’s Stance on Federalizing Elections
According to Thune, elections for congressional members are administered by individual states, as outlined in Article 1 of the Constitution. While Congress has the authority to enact federal regulations, state governments handle voter registration, ballot counting, and fraud prevention. Thune expressed his belief in a decentralized approach, stating it is “harder to hack 50 election systems than one.”
White House Response
In response to Thune’s comments, White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson reiterated Trump’s deep concern for election safety. She referenced the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, which proposes a uniform photo ID standard, prohibits no-excuse mail-in voting, and aims to eliminate ballot harvesting.
House Speaker’s View
House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana, echoed Thune’s sentiments by stating that state administration of elections is effective when integrity is prioritized. Johnson noted that Trump was expressing frustration over election management in certain states, particularly pointing out concerns regarding “blue states.” He highlighted the SAVE Act, which mandates proof of citizenship for voter registration, despite existing laws prohibiting non-citizen voting.
Trump’s Claims about Election Fraud
During a recent podcast hosted by former FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino, Trump reiterated unfounded claims about the 2020 election being rigged. He suggested that Republicans should aim to “take over the voting” in certain locations and wrongly insisted that he won states like Georgia. His comments included references to an FBI activity at a Fulton County election office, implying there would be significant discoveries pertaining to election manipulation.
Reactions from Democrats and Advocacy Groups
Trump’s comments drew sharp criticism from Democratic leaders. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer labeled the remarks as “dangerous autocratic poison,” questioning Trump’s commitment to democracy. Rep. Sanford Bishop, whose district includes parts of Georgia, described Trump’s rhetoric as intimidation aimed at usurping the electoral process.
- Trump’s nationalization suggestion faced backlash from various political figures.
- Democrats argued that elections should not be defined by party affiliations.
The NAACP also condemned Trump’s statements, characterizing them as a direct threat to democratic foundations. Their statement described the call to nationalize elections as a serious attack on the Constitution.
In conclusion, prominent Republicans like Thune and Johnson maintain that elections should remain under state control, while Trump’s controversial remarks continue to stir political tensions.
