Former President Donald Trump has escalated his campaign to transform American election administration, publicly urging Republican officials to seize control of voting processes nationwide. During a February 2 podcast appearance with former FBI deputy director Dan Bongino, Trump advocated for the nationalization of voting systems in 15 unspecified locations, marking his most direct intervention into election mechanics to date.
This development occurs against the backdrop of mounting political challenges for Republicans as November’s midterm elections approach. The party faces growing public resistance to aggressive immigration enforcement operations—including a controversial January operation in Minneapolis that resulted in two fatalities—combined with persistent economic pressures affecting American households.
Trump’s latest remarks follow a series of election-related controversies, including an FBI search at a Georgia election center last week connected to unsubstantiated fraud allegations from the 2020 presidential race. The former president has consistently promoted the false narrative that he won the 2020 election, despite losing to President Joe Biden.
Analysts point to recent Democratic victories as evidence of shifting political dynamics. A Democratic candidate secured a state Senate seat in a traditionally Republican Texas district on Saturday, building upon previous Democratic successes in New Jersey and Virginia gubernatorial races, along with a progressive victory in New York City’s mayoral election.
Trump’s presidency was marked by numerous legal challenges, including indictments in 2023 by federal prosecutors and the state of Georgia for alleged attempts to overturn the 2020 election results. These cases were subsequently dismissed following his 2024 re-election.