U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche has refused to rule out possible federal intervention in state election certification ahead of the midterm elections. He said extreme situations could lead the Department of Justice (DOJ) to consider action, though he denied plans to interfere with the voting process.
Blanche spoke to reporters in Virginia on Thursday. He faced questions about whether the DOJ could step into state procedures for confirming election results. He said it was not possible to rule out every situation that might arise, including what he called a “doomsday scenario.”
He also said he had no way to predict future events. For that reason, he did not want to make a final statement about what the department might do in every possible case.
Blanche stressed that he was not planning to stop states from certifying their election results. He said he was not arranging his work around a plan to prevent certification. Still, his refusal to rule out federal action has raised questions about the administration’s approach to election disputes.
The comments come as the DOJ pursues legal cases over voter records and ballot rules in several states. The department says it wants to ensure that only eligible citizens vote in federal elections. Critics argue that some of its actions could interfere with state authority and disrupt election work.
At a news conference in Norfolk, Virginia, Blanche was asked about lawsuits seeking unredacted voter data and changes to the handling of ballots. The DOJ has argued that states should provide more complete voter information and review records linked to people the government considers likely noncitizens.
Blanche said the department was not trying to cause confusion. Instead, he said, it wanted to alert officials to possible problems and protect the voting process. He argued that Americans should have confidence that election rules are being followed and that only eligible people cast ballots.
However, the federal government’s role in elections has clear legal limits. State and local officials are mainly responsible for running elections, counting ballots and certifying results. The DOJ can enforce federal voting rights laws and investigate violations, but it does not have broad power to take over state election duties.
Federal law also does not give the department a general right to delay certification or reject ballots simply because officials question a voter’s eligibility. Any federal action would need a legal basis and could face a challenge in court.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer responded sharply to Blanche’s remarks. The New York Democrat said Senate Democrats had been preparing for months and would be ready for any steps taken by the administration.
Schumer accused President Donald Trump and his allies of trying to undermine the election. In a post on X, he said elections should belong to voters, not the president. His comments reflect wider Democratic fears about the administration’s role in election oversight.
The dispute has grown as the DOJ pursues a lawsuit against California election officials. Last week, the department claimed state officials had failed to act quickly enough to review names that federal authorities identified as likely noncitizens.
The DOJ asked a judge to stop California from counting mail-in ballots linked to those people unless their eligibility could be confirmed. The request has raised concerns about the timing of the case and the effect that a court order could have on the state’s vote count.
California officials and legal advocates have challenged the department’s approach. They argue that states have a key role in managing elections and that major changes close to election day could create delays. They have also questioned the process used to identify people as likely noncitizens.
The Trump administration has often claimed that noncitizen voting poses a threat to election security. However, studies and criminal cases have found that cases of noncitizens voting are rare. The issue remains a major source of political conflict.
The DOJ says its legal action aims to protect election integrity and enforce federal law. Opponents say efforts to obtain sensitive voter data or restrict ballots could go beyond the department’s authority.
Blanche has not announced any plan to intervene in state election certification. His comments leave open the possibility of action in an extreme case, but they do not show that the DOJ has decided to take such a step.
As the midterm elections draw closer, state officials and lawmakers will watch how the department handles disputes. Any move by federal authorities to affect the certification process could lead to further court battles over the balance of power between Washington and the states.
