In a shocking move, former President Donald Trump has called for the federal government to take control of elections in Detroit, Michigan, drawing swift condemnation from state and local leaders. Trump's suggestion, made during a recent rally in Livingston County, has been described as a blatant attempt to undermine the democratic process and disenfranchise voters in a predominantly Black and Democratic-leaning city.
Whitmer Rejects "Unwarranted" Proposal
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat, wasted no time in rejecting Trump's proposal, calling it "unwarranted and not something that we're going to be asking for." Whitmer argued that the city's crime rate is already declining, thanks to successful partnerships between federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.
Experts Warn of Dangerous Precedent
Constitutional scholars and election experts have also condemned Trump's proposal, warning that it sets a dangerous precedent for federal interference in state and local elections. Votebeat, a nonprofit news organization reporting on voting access and election administration, noted that there is little legal precedent or authority for such a move.
"The Constitution doesn't grant the president the power to unilaterally take over state and local elections," said Carrie Levine, a senior reporter at Votebeat. "This kind of federal interference in elections is exactly the kind of thing the Framers wanted to avoid."
Ongoing Tensions Between GOP and Secretary of State
Trump's suggestion comes on the heels of a request from 22 Republican state lawmakers for the U.S. Department of Justice to oversee Michigan's 2026 primary and general elections. The lawmakers cited an "inherent and unavoidable conflict of interest" with Democratic Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, who is running for governor.
What this really means is that the Michigan GOP is engaged in a concerted effort to undermine confidence in the state's election system, regardless of the fact that it has been consistently free, fair, and accurate for nearly two centuries. The bigger picture here is a disturbing trend of Republican politicians across the country seeking to centralize control over elections at the federal level, a move that could have dire consequences for American democracy.
As CBS News Detroit reported, the request from Michigan GOP lawmakers "escalates the ongoing tension between legislative Republicans and Democratic Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson over the conduct of past and future elections in Michigan." This latest development is just the latest salvo in a broader battle over the integrity of the electoral process.