Blue state governors are warning that President Donald Trump may use military forces to interfere with upcoming elections. They say recent National Guard deployments in Los Angeles, Washington, and Chicago could intimidate voters.
Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker told Face the Nation that pre-positioned troops could have aims beyond fighting crime. He said Trump might try to control or halt local elections.
California Governor Gavin Newsom echoed the warning during a press conference and a podcast organized by the Democratic National Committee. He said federalized troops remain in place through the elections.
(AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
The White House recently extended the deployment of National Guard troops in California for 90 days. Critics note the timing covers Election Day, raising concerns over potential voter intimidation.
Trump has also attacked voting by mail, saying some states using mail ballots have automatically crooked elections. He claimed the decision to move Space Force headquarters from Colorado to Alabama was inspired by a chat with Vladimir Putin.
Newsom warned that armed forces could appear at polling stations, scaring voters and reducing turnout in cities that oppose MAGA policies. He called it a chilling prospect for democracy.
Pritzker: “I refuse to pretend that any of this is normal … I refuse to fall into the pundit trap that demands we sacrifice vital constitutional rights if it’s being done in the fake guise of fighting crime.”
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) September 3, 2025 at 1:50 AM
Experts note that vote by mail is safe and widely used across red and blue states. There is no evidence of widespread fraud, and officials warn Trump’s comments could undermine confidence in elections.
Legal analysts say Trump’s use of military forces violates a bedrock law called the Posse Comitatus Act. One federal judge ruled the deployment in Los Angeles illegal, and the administration immediately appealed the decision.
Trump has been toying with the authoritarian labels, mocking critics who call him a dictator while implying some voters may support strongman leadership. Governors and legal scholars say this rhetoric is dangerous.
(AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Pritzker cited historical examples showing how authoritarian leaders provoke crises to justify military action. He warned that pre-positioned troops could be misused to influence elections.
Cleta Mitchell, a lawyer linked to Trump’s 2020 efforts, referenced the president’s 2021 phone call in which he urged Georgia officials to find votes. On a podcast, she flagged that the president could claim emergency powers to control federal elections.
Trump has publicly criticized states using mail ballots and threatened consequences, such as moving Space Force because Colorado elections relied on mail voting. Experts warn this politicizes federal power.
Governors call on citizens, courts, and the press to monitor elections carefully. They emphasize restoring normal rules and limiting military interference to maintain public trust.
Federal experts note that any attempt to use troops to influence voting would break law. One senior Brennan Center director said, “There is no law that allows the president to deploy the armed forces in any context to prevent a free and fair election, or to overturn the results of an election.”
California and Illinois have taken legal steps to resist federal overreach. Courts are reviewing whether the deployments violate election law, and higher courts are considering appeals.
Newsom warned that seeing troops on city streets normalizes force and undermines democracy. He said the situation is chilling and must be resisted immediately.
Pritzker warned citizens not to treat these actions as normal. He said studying human history shows how small erosions of law can escalate to larger attacks on democratic processes.
Trump continues to leverage law-and-order messaging in fundraising emails, vowing to “liberate” Chicago. Critics say this heightens public alarm and reinforces fears of authoritarian moves.
Civil rights advocates also warn that federal troops at polling places could intimidate voters, particularly in urban centers where opposition is strong. They stress the need for vigilance as National Guard and federal forces remain deployed.
The administration’s legal appeals are ongoing, leaving the question unresolved. Governors insist citizens, the press, and courts must safeguard voting rights and ensure elections are free, fair, and secure.
