ICYMI: Luján Pens Op-Ed on Fighting Back Against Trump’s Push to Rig the Election

Washington, D.C. - In Case You Missed It: U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) published an opinion piece in the Santa Fe New Mexican highlighting how he is fighting back against President Trump and Republicans' anti-voter SAVE Act which will have harmful impact on New Mexicans and Americans across the country, including on rural, Tribal, and Hispanic communities.

Read the full op-ed here or below:

Santa Fe New Mexican: Trump wants to rig the election: I'm fighting back

By Ben Ray Luján | March 19, 2026

I'll never forget one of my first days in the U.S. Senate. On Jan. 6, 2021, rioters stormed the Capitol after President Donald Trump refused to accept the truth that he lost the 2020 election. Today, that same refusal to accept the will of the people is driving his latest attempt to rig our elections through the Republicans' so-called SAVE Act.

This is part of his broader strategy to hold onto power.

Trump told Republicans to "find" more House seats, claiming they are "entitled" to them. After pushing redistricting across the country and threatening lawmakers who stand in his way, he is now trying to rewrite the rules of our elections to lock in power.

The SAVE Act is designed to save Republicans from facing American voters. They know their agenda isn't working. Costs are up. Health care is more expensive. Trump launched a war with Iran.

They think that if fewer people can vote, they can hang on to their power in Congress.

This bill would make it harder for millions of eligible Americans to register to vote.

It would eliminate online and mail registration. It would force people to register in person, no matter how far they live or how hard it is to get there. And, it would reject IDs Americans use every day, including tribal IDs and even military IDs.

Trump wants control of our elections. He said, "We should take over the voting," and that passing the SAVE Act means that Republicans will "never lose a race in 50 years."

We know who he is targeting.

Tribal communities would be among the hardest hit. Many tribal IDs do not include a place of birth, which this bill would require. That means Native voters could be blocked from registering, even when they are fully eligible.

Hispanic communities would face new barriers as well. Naturalized citizens could be forced to track down documents that many people don't have easy access to. Young voters and rural communities who rely on mail and online registration would be shut out.

In our democracy, voting should be accessible for every single eligible American.

I've spent my career fighting to protect the sacred right to vote. I've stood with and marched alongside civil rights legends like John Lewis. I've worked alongside tribal communities to make sure their voices are heard and respected at the ballot box.

When New Mexicans entrusted me to serve as their senator, they sent someone who will always stand up and fight when those rights are under attack.

I'll be voting no on the Republicans' voter suppression bill.

Donald Trump does not get to choose who votes. In our democracy, the people decide. I'll keep fighting to make sure that never changes.

Senator Luján has long been a staunch supporter of protecting voting rights and strengthening American democracy. Senator Luján championed the Native American Voting Rights Act, legislation to protect the sacred right to vote and ensure equal access to the electoral process for American Indians and Alaska Natives and voters living on Tribal lands.

Senator Luján also introduced the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, legislation to restore the landmark Voting Rights Act (VRA) and stop the spreading scourge of voter suppression. Senator Luján introduced the For the People Act, a sweeping package of comprehensive reforms that addresses voter intimidation and suppression, fights campaign corruption, and ends gerrymandering. He also introduced the Freedom to Vote Act, legislation to improve access to the ballot for Americans, advance commonsense federal election standards and campaign finance reforms, and protect our democracy.

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