Padilla Statement on Trump’s Illegal Election Takeover Executive Order

SAN JOSE, CA - Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration and California's former Secretary of State, issued the following statement as President Trump issued a sweeping illegal election "takeover" executive order, including by attempting to crack down on mail-in voting:

"Instead of focusing on lowering the cost of energy, groceries, and health care, Donald Trump is desperately attempting to take over and rig our elections and avoid accountability in November. This executive order is a blatant, unconstitutional abuse of power. The President and the Department of Homeland Security have no authority to commandeer federal elections or direct the independent Postal Service to undermine mail and absentee voting that nearly 50 million Americans relied on in 2024. A decade of lies about election fraud does not change the Constitution.

"Make no mistake: Trump's attacks on our elections are a clear and present threat to our democracy. In the middle of an unauthorized war abroad and an escalating authoritarian crackdown by ICE here at home, Trump is attempting another illegal power grab. I will use every tool I can to stop him, and I expect immediate legal challenges in order to protect our free and fair elections."

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