MAGA activists are calling on President Donald Trump to implement martial law to prevent what they perceive as a rigged midterm election. These proposals, which include seizing voting equipment and pausing the election process, come amid challenging polling for the Republican party.
The September 30 call and the martial law proposal
During a video call on September 30, Peter Ticktin, an attorney and childhood friend of Donald Trump, raised the possibility of invoking martial law if another election is perceived as fraudulent. According to an Axios report, Ticktin suggested that authorities might need to take direct control of election materials to investigate alleged irregularities before they can escalate.
The discussion also featured Tina Peters, a former Colorado county clerk who was convicted in 2024 for crimes related to a breach of election equipment. Peters, whose sentence was later commuted by Colorado Governor Jared Polis, has been advocating for a shift toward hand-marked paper ballots and manual recounts to minimize the influence of voting machines. The Axios report notes that some of the measures discussed during this call, such as seizing ballots, may exceed the legal authority of the presidency.
Seizing voting equipment and the National Emergencies Act
Gregory Stenstrom, a figure who previously testified regarding alleged voting fraud in Pennsylvania, has proposed that the election be paused entirely due to security concerns. Stenstrom suggested that Donald Trump could utilize the National Emergencies Act to compel states to alter their established election procedures.
However, legal experts warn that such a move would face insurmountable hurdles. Derek Tisler, counsel for the Brennan Center's elections and government program, told Axios that emergency powers do not grant a president the ability to unilaterally take over the election process. Because Congress determines the dates for federal elections and individual states manage their own voting systems, Tisler emphasized that declaring martial law would not allow the president to override state and federal laws or seize election materials without proper legal standing.
A 56 percent chance for Democrats and Republican polling headwinds
The push for radical intervention comes at a time when the Republican party faces significant political obstacles. Recent data from The Hill and Decision Desk HQ suggests that Democrats have a 56 percent chance of seizing control of the Senate in the upcoming midterms.
The political environment for Donald Trump also appears strained, according to recent presidential approval tracking. As reported by Axios, Trump currently holds a 38.7 percent approval rating, while his disapproval rating stands at 59.4 percent. these figures highlight the high-stakes atmosphere that is driving activists to propose extreme measures to influence the midterm outcome.
The disconnect between White House statements and figures like Peter Navarro
While activists push for intervention, the White House has maintained a more traditional stance on election integrity. the administration told Axios that Donald Trump believes every legal vote must be protected and that elections must remain transparent.
Despite this official position, several figures close to the administration continue to promote claims of past election irregularities. Heather Honey,who has frequently raised questions about election integrity, currently serves as the Homeland Security Department deputy assistant secretary for election integrity, while White House adviser Peter Navarro continues to advocate for allegations regarding the 2020 vote. It remains unclear how the White House will reconcile these official transparency pledges with the more aggressive, extra-legal demands being made by prominent figures within the MAGA movement.
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