As the 2026 midterm elections approach, a federal appeals court on Friday rejected the Trump administration's latest bid to force California election officials to set aside more than 20,000 mail-in ballots. The court deemed the administration's request unconstitutional, marking another legal setback in ongoing efforts to challenge voting procedures.
The rejected lawsuit is part of a broader push by the administration to question voting integrity amid voter frustration and declining presidential approval ratings. Following the ruling, the administration could choose to appeal the matter to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Meanwhile, campaign activity is intensifying across the country. President Trump reversed an earlier decision to cancel rallies, announcing plans to travel Sunday to Kansas and Iowa—two traditionally Republican states featuring competitive Senate races that could dictate control of the chamber. At the same time, the Justice Department has widened its legal inquiries, issuing subpoenas in California regarding noncitizen voter rolls and in Alaska concerning a Democratic ballot strategy.
