Hakeem Jeffries said Democrats will block any attempt by Donald Trump to nationalize or "steal" this year’s midterm elections, after Trump urged Republicans to "take over the voting." Jeffries emphasized that states and local officials run elections and noted Democratic efforts to block federalization of the National Guard and partisan redistricting. The story also covers the FBI raid in Fulton County, ongoing debunked fraud claims, a deleted racist post about the Obamas, Jeffrey Epstein’s Zorro Ranch allegations, a UK chief-of-staff resignation, New York snow politics, and states weighing legal action against polluters over rising insurance costs.
Jeffries Vows Democrats Will Block Any Attempt By Trump To ‘Nationalize’ Midterm Elections
Hakeem Jeffries, with Chuck Schumer standing to the left, speaks at a press conference on 4 February.Photograph: Michael Brochstein/ZUMA Press Wire/Shutterstock(Photograph: Michael Brochstein/ZUMA Press Wire/Shutterstock)
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said on Sunday that Democrats will prevent any effort by former President Donald Trump or his allies to "nationalize" or otherwise seize control of this year’s midterm elections.
Jeffries Responds to Trump's Push
Jeffries’ comments came after Trump urged Republicans to “take over the voting,” a remark that Democrats and voting-rights advocates said risked undermining confidence in local election administration. The U.S. Constitution assigns states primary authority to run elections, while Congress can set standards for federal contests; the president has no direct power to dictate how state or local officials conduct voting.
“What Donald Trump wants to do is try and nationalize the election – translation: steal it. And we’re not going to let it happen,” Jeffries said on CNN’s State of the Union.
Jeffries said Democrats had already blocked efforts to federalize the National Guard and had pushed back against a nationwide Republican effort to redraw congressional districts for partisan advantage.
Fulton County Raid and False Fraud Claims
The article also details how the Trump administration and allies have, for months, cast doubt on the integrity of elections by filing lawsuits challenging how some states maintain voter rolls. Last month, the FBI executed an unprecedented search of the Fulton County, Georgia, election office, seizing ballots and other materials related to the 2020 election. Officials and independent reviews have repeatedly rejected claims of widespread fraud in Fulton County, though Trump has continued to repeat those assertions.
Racist Post and Reactions
Jeffries also criticized Trump for refusing to apologize after a racist image posted on Truth Social depicted Barack and Michelle Obama as apes. The White House said the post was removed and blamed a staffer for uploading it amid widespread condemnation.
Other Headlines in Brief
Trump and Hunter Hess: Trump responded on Truth Social to U.S. freestyle skier Hunter Hess, calling the Olympian a “real loser” and criticizing his recent remarks.
Epstein’s Zorro Ranch: Jeffrey Epstein’s Zorro Ranch, a nearly 10,000-acre property outside Santa Fe, New Mexico, included a 26,700 sq ft mansion, private runway and hangar. Multiple survivors have testified that Epstein repeatedly abused teenage girls and young women on the property.
UK Resignation: Morgan McSweeney, chief of staff to UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, resigned amid anger over the appointment of Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the United States.
New York Snow Blame: Two weeks after a snowfall in New York City, temperatures remained near freezing and some political critics blamed Zohran Mamdani, the city’s new socialist mayor, for slow cleanup—an example of political finger-pointing as much as meteorological reality.
Climate and Insurance: As climate-driven disasters push up homeowners’ insurance costs, three U.S. states are considering laws that would empower state prosecutors to sue major polluters for contributing to rising premiums.
Catching up? Here’s what happened Saturday 7 February.
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