Senator Murphy Disputes Trump's Voting Order Authority

On Tuesday, during an appearance on MSNBC’s “All In,” Senator Chris Murphy asserted that President Donald Trump “doesn’t have the power” to unilaterally change election procedures through his new executive order.

Concerns Over Federalization of Elections

Host Chris Hayes introduced the topic by stating the President is focused on controlling the electorate for the upcoming midterms and potentially federalizing elections. Hayes described the executive order as directing the US Postal Service to act as an agent of the federal government in determining voter eligibility, calling it a significant overreach.

Trump's Motives and Potential Backlash

Murphy suggested Trump’s actions stem from an anticipated defeat for his party, given current events like the war and rising gas prices. “He knows now…that through conventional means, his party is going to get their clock cleaned,” Murphy stated. “And so his only mechanism is to, as you said, try to change the composition of the electorate.”

Legal Challenges and Unintended Consequences

The Senator outlined three key points regarding the executive order. First, he believes much of it will be legally challenged and likely struck down. Second, he suggested some aspects could disproportionately impact Republican voters. Finally, Murphy referenced the 2020 elections in Georgia, noting that attempts to suppress votes often motivate increased voter turnout.

“When he threatens people with taking their vote away, they tend to feel like it’s more important for them to actually make sure that their vote is cast,” Murphy explained. “And people who might have been thinking about staying on the sidelines are so offended by what he is doing that they show up in bigger numbers.”