The 11th Hour with Stephanie Ruhle Constitution 101: States control elections, not Donald Trump
Feb 4, 2026
Sen. Rand Paul, Kentucky senator and Senate Homeland Security chair, weighs in on DHS oversight and ICE tactics. He discusses federal agents in Minneapolis and urges local control and independent investigations. He also rejects nationalizing elections and flags concerns about foreign deals and oversight.
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Searches Fuel Federalization Rhetoric
- Trump's call to 'nationalize' elections followed an FBI search seizing 2020 ballots in Fulton County, escalating concerns about federal intervention.
- The episode highlights how election controversies and law enforcement actions feed political arguments for federal control.
Constitutional Limits On Federalizing Elections
- Article I, Section 4 gives states primary control over federal election timing, place, and manner, with limited congressional override.
- James Sample warns nationalizing elections or partisan control contradicts constitutional design and risks disenfranchisement.
Use Courts To Protect Election Rules
- Courts have so far blocked unilateral federal changes to election procedures and serve as a guardrail against executive overreach.
- Rely on litigation and judicial review to challenge unconstitutional election nationalization efforts before they take effect.