Welch Urges Action Against Trump's Threats to Undermine 2026 Elections

Welch joins Senate Rules Committee Democrats for a forum exposing President Trump’s attempts to “take over” federal elections

WASHINGTON, D.C. *— *U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), a member of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, joined** Senate Rules Committee Ranking Member Alex Padilla (D-Calif.)** and Senate Rules Committee Democrats for a public forum highlighting how President Trump’s threats to “take over the voting” in several states endanger the voting rights of millions of Americans and jeopardize the integrity of U.S. elections. The forum also highlighted how states, localities, and civil society are pushing back against the administration’s continued attacks on states’ election administration authority and offered a blueprint for states as they prepare for the 2026 midterm elections.

“There are two lies at the heart of this effort—it’s not about voter ID. Lie one is that the 2020 election is stolen and lie two is that there’s massive voter fraud. And what I understand…is there is no documentation whatsoever to the assertion about voter fraud. But the lie of the election fraud continues,” said Senator Welch. “So, this is going to be a full-on assault that is not going to relent.”

Watch Senator Welch’s full remarks *below*:

When asked about the dangers of Republicans’ ***SAVE Act* by Senator Welch, witness Norm Eisen responded: **

** Norm Eisen**: The entire

SAVE Actis mischaracterized—

intentionallymischaracterized—as a voter ID act. It’s really a voter suppression act or a voter burdening act, Senator. Because

everyaspect of the

SAVE Act—if you read through the bill—every aspect is intended to solve a nonexistent problem. Demanding proof of citizenship at the polls; photo ID requirements—what counts as documentary proof? Burdening online registration system[s]; the preemption effects on our hardworking state and local elections officials—who are doing such a good job—exposing them to enhance legal liability…I could go on and on.

…

Senators Welch and Padilla were joined at the forum by Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Rev. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.).

Senators heard from panelists including Fulton County, Georgia Commissioner Mo Ivory; California Attorney General Rob Bonta; Founder of Democracy Defenders and Former U.S. Ambassador to the Czech Republic Norm Eisen; and Former Maricopa County, Arizona Recorder, Fellow at the CATO Institute, and CEO of Republic Affairs Stephen Richer. Watch a livestream of the forum here.

Senator Welch is a long-time supporter of the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, legislation that would update and restore critical safeguards of the original

that have been eroded in recent years by federal court rulings.

Voting Rights Actof 1965###