House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) is calling out President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans on their attempts to suppress votes ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, sounding the alarm over their latest scheme in Congress.
During a recent interview on CNN with Dana Bash, Jeffries pushed back on Republican efforts to advance the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, legislation that would require documentary proof of citizenship—such as a birth certificate or passport—in order to register to vote. Republicans argue the measure is needed to protect election integrity, but Jeffries dismissed that claim, calling it a “clear” and “blatant” attempt at voter suppression. In other words, it is less about security and more about tilting the playing field in Trump’s favor.
According to Jeffries, the states should have the authority to administer their own elections, and most states already have systems in place to ensure fairness. “Every state should be allowed to decide the best way to proceed, to ensure that there’s a free and fair election,” he said, noting that states like New York already have voter identification requirements.
Jeffries: ‘This Is Going To Be A Free And Fair Election’
Jeffries framed the proposal as part of a broader MAGA/Republican strategy driven by humiliating electoral losses. “They know that if there’s a free and fair election in November, they’re going to lose,” he said. Jeffries pointed to a series of Democratic victories across the country since Trump returned to the White House, including wins in off-year elections in states such as New Jersey and Virginia, as well as the recent upset in Texas.
Bash noted that Democrats were able to win in states that already have voter ID requirements, including Virginia, which Jeffries acknowledged. However, he reiterated that the central issue is not whether states choose to require ID but whether the federal government should impose new, restrictive mandates nationwide.
“What Donald Trump wants to do is try to nationalize the election,” Jeffries said. “Translation: steal it. And we’re not going to let it happen.”
As the SAVE Act moves through Congress, Jeffries’ comments show that Democrats plan to ensure a “free” and “fair” election for the upcoming midterm elections. With recent victories at the polls fueling their confidence, Democrats are framing these Republican election schemes as evidence that the GOP is preparing for defeat—and scrambling to underhandedly save themselves before voters head to the polls.
