MAGA Activists Urge Trump to Consider Martial Law for Future Elections
Some activists are pushing for extraordinary measures, including seizing ballots and halting elections, if Republicans face losses in the upcoming midterms.
MAGA activists are privately urging former President Donald Trump to consider imposing martial law should Republicans face losses in the upcoming midterm elections, which they fear could be "rigged." These proposals include seizing ballots and voting equipment, pausing the election, and using emergency powers to compel states to alter their electoral procedures.
Sources report that these discussions have occurred among activists who continue to voice concerns about the integrity of the 2020 election. There is no current evidence to suggest the upcoming elections will be rigged, and some of the proposed measures extend beyond the president's legal authority.
Peter Ticktin, a childhood friend of Trump and an attorney, reportedly raised the prospect of martial law during a September 30 video call with election activists, stating, "There would have to be martial law" if another election were "rigged." Polling data at the time indicated potential challenges for Republicans in the November midterms, with forecasts suggesting Democrats had a strong chance of taking control of the Senate. Trump's approval ratings were also reported to be low.
Following the call, Ticktin told Axios that authorities might need to take control of ballots and election equipment to investigate alleged issues before other actions could be taken. Former Colorado county clerk Tina Peters, who became a prominent figure among election activists after her conviction for crimes related to a breach of election equipment in 2024, was also present on the call. Peters' sentence was commuted earlier this year, and she has since advocated for a shift to hand-marked paper ballots and manual vote recounts to reduce the influence of voting machines. She has met with Trump and previously visited the White House with Ticktin.
Gregory Stenstrom, who testified about alleged voting fraud in Pennsylvania after the 2020 election, expressed a desire for the current election to be paused due to security concerns. He also suggested that Trump could utilize the National Emergencies Act to mandate changes in state election procedures.
These discussions highlight the continued influence of fraud claims from the 2020 election on some figures within Trump's circle. Heather Honey, an advocate for election irregularity claims, now serves as the Homeland Security Department's deputy assistant secretary for election integrity, and White House adviser Peter Navarro has also continued to promote allegations of fraud.
The White House has stated that Trump believes every legal vote should be counted and that elections must be protected and transparent. However, legal experts point to significant obstacles for such proposals. Derek Tisler, counsel for the Brennan Center's elections and government program, explained that presidential emergency powers do not grant the authority to unilaterally take over elections. Federal election dates are set by Congress, precluding Trump from postponing the midterms. While states manage their voting systems and ballot counting processes, they are subject to federal law. Tisler noted that declaring martial law would not empower the president to override existing state and federal election laws or seize election materials without proper legal authorization.