Why I Believe That Trump Will Not Be Able to Prevent the 2026 Congressional Elections

There are safeguards that will make it very difficult for him

Donald Trump will have a very hard time preventing the 2026 elections. U.S. elections are constitutionally mandated and decentralized, with states responsible for conducting them.

While Trump may attempt to consolidate power or influence electoral processes through measures like voter restrictions or institutional changes, outright cancellation of elections is legally and practically impossible under the U.S. Constitution.

Donald Trump would face significant legal barriers to preventing the 2026 elections, as U.S. law and the Constitution firmly protect the electoral process:

1. Constitutional Mandates: Federal elections, including midterms, are constitutionally required.

2. State Control of Elections: Elections are decentralized and managed by individual states. The president has no direct authority to cancel or interfere with state-run elections.

3. Judicial Oversight: Courts serve as a critical check on presidential overreach. Any attempt to cancel or disrupt elections would likely face immediate legal challenges, with courts enforcing constitutional protections.

4. Congressional and Institutional Checks: Even with Republican control of Congress, procedural hurdles like the Senate filibuster would prevent sweeping changes to election laws without bipartisan support.

While Trump could attempt to weaken democratic institutions (e.g., voter suppression laws, interference in election administration), outright prevention of elections is legally and practically impossible under the current system.

State-level election authorities ensure the integrity of the electoral process through a combination of decentralized administration, rigorous oversight, and security measures:

• Decentralized Structure: U.S. elections are managed at the state and local levels, creating a system with multiple layers of checks and balances. This decentralization makes large-scale manipulation difficult, as any interference would require coordination across thousands of jurisdictions.

• Election Oversight: State election officials, such as Secretaries of State or election commissions, oversee compliance with election laws, manage voter registration databases, and certify results. Local officials handle polling locations, ballot processing, and staffing.

• Community Participation: Local poll workers and election boards, often composed of community members, monitor voting processes and ensure adherence to procedures. This grassroots involvement helps detect irregularities and builds trust in the system.

• Security Measures: States protect critical infrastructure like voting machines and voter registration systems.

• Training and Certification: Election officials undergo professional training and certifications to ensure competence in managing elections effectively. Resources from organizations like the National Association of Secretaries of State support best practices.

These measures collectively safeguard elections against fraud and enhance public confidence in their integrity.

Trump may well declare martial law in an effort to stop the elections, but he will be stymied there by the national outcry that would result and the reaction of the courts. Besides, he has no grounds for declaring martial law. It can only be declared when civilian authorities are unable to maintain order and the military is needed to take control. This can happen during times of war, civil unrest, or natural disasters. Elections certainly are not.

If he defies the courts and brings out the military, how many will violate the Constitution and jeopardize themselves for him? Let’s remember that Trump is at bottom a coward. He will delegate this task to others, and the rank and file will not cooperate.

Trump is not going to stop the 2026 elections and he is not running again in 2028. Let’s focus on punishing him and his congressional enablers in November 2026.

To those who are not convinced, please consider that giving up on elections is tantamount to obeying in advance. We must not do that. It just makes it easier for Trump and his stooges to succeed in their illegality.