McConnell warns Trump's election order sets dangerous precedent

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell published a Wall Street Journal op-ed in April 2025 (approximately April 8) titled "Trump Gives Democrats a Voting Gift," criticizing President Trump's Executive Order 14248 on election security as creating dangerous precedent for federal election control

Trump's Executive Order 14248, signed March 25, 2025, requires proof of citizenship to register for federal elections and mandates that all ballots be received by Election Day

The executive order threatens to pull federal funding from states if election officials don't comply with federal citizenship verification and ballot receipt requirements

McConnell warned that Trump's order could make it easier for future Democratic presidents and Congress to use more sweeping mandates to carry out complete federal takeover of American elections

McConnell contrasted Trump's approach with the Help America Vote Act of 2002, which was authored by Democratic Senator Chris Dodd and passed with bipartisan support to provide resources while limiting federal election involvement

McConnell argued that elections may have national consequences but the constitutional power to conduct them rests with state governments, not Washington federal agencies

Several groups including the 🏛️Democratic National Committee filed federal lawsuits challenging Executive Order 14248, and the DC District Court issued a preliminary injunction in April 2025 blocking key provisions