The top Democrats on the House and Senate intelligence committees say they are preparing for the possibility that President Trump claims foreign interference to challenge the midterm elections on Nov. 3 1. Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia and Rep. Jim Himes of Connecticut spoke to reporters on Wednesday, Oct. 21 2.
Himes said Democrats have planned for a range of scenarios. The quote below is his 1.
We're making the assumption that the president is not going to accept the results of what looks to be a very challenging election for him and his party
The two lawmakers have asked CIA Director John Ratcliffe and Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton to be reachable by phone on Election Day 1. The goal is direct access to senior officials who could check, in real time, any claim of foreign interference from the president or his administration 1.
What they say the intelligence shows
Warner and Himes said recent intelligence assessments show no sign of foreign efforts to manipulate voting machinery or vote counts 1. Himes said "Nothing out there suggests that there is either the capability or the intent to do interference." 1
From Channel GOPHimes: Trump's foreign interference claims are not trueJim Himes · 156 plays · captioned, with the source named
The intelligence community separates foreign influence, which tries to sway voters or shake confidence in elections, from interference, which targets the technical side of voting 1. The lawmakers said Russia, Iran and China are running influence efforts, and other actors, including North Korea, are weighing action 1.
The concern about Trump
The lawmakers could chair their committees if Democrats win both chambers 1. They said they worry Trump could cite fabricated or selectively presented intelligence to cast doubt on results or justify extraordinary federal action, possibly including attempts to seize ballots or voting equipment 1. Those are their concerns, not actions the administration has announced.
In a July prime-time address, Trump cited declassified intelligence about China acquiring American voter data to raise election security concerns 1. The material he released did not show that Beijing had altered votes or results 1.
Himes described how he would respond if Trump claimed Iranian operations at noon on Election Day. He said he would say that he is a member of the Gang of Eight, the small group of congressional leaders briefed on top intelligence matters, and had received no such briefing 2.
Missing reports and weakened defenses
Warner and Himes said Congress has not received several election-related intelligence assessments required by law, due 120, 60 and 30 days before Election Day 1. Both committees received a classified update this week, and the House panel expects another bipartisan briefing next week 1.
Warner said the two previous directors, Tulsi Gabbard and Bill Pulte, who served in an acting capacity, had "zero interest in complying with the law here." 1 He acknowledged that Clayton had tried to fix some of the gaps 1.
The lawmakers also pointed to cuts at the Foreign Malign Influence Center at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), and large staffing cuts at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, which helps states protect election systems 1.
The administration's response
An ODNI spokesperson said Clayton has told committee leaders he is available to them at any hour on any issue 1. A CIA spokesperson said Ratcliffe would remain available when appropriate 1.
That matters because the dispute is partly about timing. If a claim of foreign interference comes on Election Day, Democrats want a way to test it within hours, not days. Himes also said career analysts he has met gave him confidence they would resist pressure to manufacture evidence 1.
The Record
- In a July prime-time address, Trump cited declassified intelligence on China acquiring U.S. voter data; the material did not show votes or results were altered 1.
- Warner and Himes told reporters they have asked CIA and national intelligence directors to be reachable by phone on Election Day 12.
- Midterm Election Day; Democrats say they are ready to respond to any foreign interference claim 1.
Sources
- CBS News, “Intel Democrats on how they'll react if Trump alleges election meddling” (2026-10-23). cbsnews.com/news/top-intel-democrats-trump-foreign-interfere
- NPR via OPB, “Top 2 Democrats on Intel say they're preparing for Trump to claim foreign meddling” (2026-10-21). opb.org/article/2026/10/21/intel-democrats-prepare-for-trump
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