Axelrod warns of election interference after Trump fires Democratic election commissioners
WASHINGTON, DC: Political consultant David Axelrod has raised concerns over potential election interference after the president fired the remaining Democratic members of the Election Assistance Commission.
President Donald Trump dismissed the remaining members of the bipartisan Election Assistance Commission (EAC) on Thursday, July 9.
David Axelrod criticizes Trump's election-related actions
David Axelrod raised concerns about election integrity following the firing, warning that "signals are flashing red."
“All the signals are flashing red, the latest being POTUS’s summary dismissal of the remaining Election Assistance Commission members,” the Democratic strategist wrote in a social media post.
The commission is a bipartisan and independent board established in 2002 to help voters participate in the election process and assist election officials. Republican member Christy McCormick also resigned on Thursday.
All the signals are flashing red, the latest being @POTUS's summary dismissal of the remaining Federal Election Assistance Commission members.
— David Axelrod (@davidaxelrod) July 10, 2026
Put that together with political hack Pulte's odious appt as DNI; election deniers in the most sensitive oversight positions; Trump's…
Axelrod also pointed to Trump's appointment of Bill Pulte as acting director of national intelligence, his executive order on mail-in voting and his push for the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) America Act as reasons for concern.
Democrats slam Trump's EAC firings before midterms
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senator Mark Warner criticized the decision, with Schumer describing it as an effort to undermine an independent federal agency responsible for supporting election officials and certifying voting systems.
The White House announced that the remaining commissioners had been fired, leaving the four-member commission vacant.
Responding to the dismissals, Schumer linked the move to Trump's broader election messaging, writing that the president had previously said Republicans should "take over the voting."
"Today, he took another step toward doing exactly that," he wrote.
Donald Trump said Republicans should “take over the voting.” Today, he took another step toward doing exactly that.
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) July 10, 2026
Firing every remaining member of the bipartisan Election Assistance Commission months before the midterms is a brazen attempt to seize control of our elections… https://t.co/MlgKasRgtW
Warner questioned the dismissals even before the official announcement, noting that every commissioner had previously been confirmed unanimously by the Senate, including one originally appointed during Trump's first administration.
"Reports that the White House has dismissed the remaining members of the Election Assistance Commission... should concern every American, regardless of party," Warner wrote, describing the EAC as an "independent, bipartisan body."
Reports that the White House has dismissed the remaining members of the Election Assistance Commission — all of whom were unanimously confirmed by the Senate, including a commissioner appointed by President Trump himself — should concern every American, regardless of party,…
— Mark Warner (@MarkWarner) July 10, 2026
White House justifies firing
The White House sought to justify the move, saying in a statement that Trump “reserves the right to remove individuals that may not be totally aligned with the important task of securing America’s elections and ensuring every legal vote is counted.”
Trump has repeatedly claimed the 2020 election was marred by widespread voter fraud.
Following his loss to former President Joe Biden, he directed his administration to investigate voting records from the election.
