In a development that’s sending ripples through both the political and election security worlds, recent reports have revealed that former President Donald Trump’s allies are preparing for a possible declaration of a national emergency in 2026. This move, according to a Common Dreams article published on October 23, 2025, is raising alarms among advocates for democracy who fear that such a declaration could be used to disrupt or even "hijack" the next presidential election. The specter of government overreach and manipulation of public information looms large, especially as Trump and his inner circle continue to exert influence over key institutions and officials.
At the heart of the current controversy is Andrew McCoy “Mac” Warner, a figure who, until this year, served as the Republican secretary of state for West Virginia. As reported by Democracy Docket, Warner is now a senior attorney within the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights division and has become a central player in what critics describe as a conspiracy-theory-driven campaign to reexamine the 2020 election and restrict voting rights. Warner’s work is closely tied to a cross-government unit known as the “Interagency Weaponization Working Group,” which was established to implement Trump’s executive order targeting what he calls the "weaponization" of the federal government.
The existence of this task force, and Warner’s pivotal role in it, was first reported by Reuters and has since drawn increasing scrutiny. While division leaders like Harmeet Dhillon and Michael Gates have faced public examination, Warner’s actions have largely flown under the radar—until now. Since joining the DOJ earlier this year, Warner has taken several steps that, according to critics, threaten to undermine public confidence in American elections. His most controversial move came when he personally contacted at least two Missouri county clerks to request "permission to access, physically inspect and perhaps take physical custody" of Dominion voting machines used in the 2020 election. Both clerks flatly rejected his request, citing state laws that make such federal intervention illegal. Sherry Parks, president of the Missouri Association of County Clerks and Election Authorities, confirmed to the Missouri Independent that "such access by the DOJ would be illegal under state law."
Warner’s actions are not occurring in a vacuum. His tenure as West Virginia’s top election official from 2017 to 2025 was defined by a series of moves that experts say restricted voter access and amplified baseless conspiracy theories about the 2020 election. During a Republican gubernatorial debate in 2023, Warner publicly declared: "The 2020 election was stolen, and it was stolen by the CIA. They colluded to sell a lie to the American people two weeks before the election. I don’t want three-lettered agencies determining the outcome of presidential elections." This claim, which has been thoroughly debunked by independent fact-checkers and intelligence officials, has nonetheless become a rallying cry among some segments of the right.
Warner has repeatedly argued that so-called "Deep State" agencies like the CIA and FBI conspired with tech companies to suppress damaging information about President Joe Biden’s family in the run-up to the 2020 election. He has also taken concrete steps to reshape election administration in line with these beliefs. For instance, he led West Virginia’s withdrawal from the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC), a nonpartisan consortium designed to help states maintain accurate voter rolls. This move was roundly criticized by election experts, who warned that it would make it harder for states to keep their rolls up to date. The withdrawal came after ERIC was targeted by far-right activists who falsely claimed it was run by Democratic operatives.
Warner’s skepticism of expanded voter access extends beyond his home state. In May 2025, as a member of the Election Assistance Commission’s Board of Advisors, he urged the commission to implement Trump’s executive order, "especially the measures requiring documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote and guidance on voting machines," according to Kansas state Representative Pat Proctor. Warner’s advocacy for tighter restrictions has put him at odds with many in the election administration community, who view such measures as unnecessary barriers that disproportionately affect marginalized groups.
His public testimony before Congress in 2023 further underscored his opposition to federal efforts aimed at broadening access to the ballot box. "Congress should first revisit the NVRA. There is no need for DMVs to register people to vote," Warner asserted, referring to the National Voter Registration Act—a cornerstone of modern voter registration policy. He added, "The federal government needs to get out of the way and let the states run their elections." In another hearing, Warner dismissed the idea that state election officials should work to increase voter participation, stating, "That is a candidate, party or campaign’s job. It’s my job to run a free, fair and clean election."
Warner’s hardline stance on election integrity has made him a favorite among right-wing advocacy groups. At a 2023 panel hosted by the Heritage Foundation, Honest Elections Project, and the Public Interest Legal Foundation, he promoted West Virginia’s restrictive policies as a model for the nation. In a December 2023 interview, he doubled down on his belief that officials in states like Pennsylvania, Georgia, and Wisconsin "stepped outside their authority" by expanding voter access in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. "We need to abide by the law and not let state authorities, whether it’s secretary of state at the state level, or the county authorities or the county clerks at the county level, to change those rules. If they do, then I contend that they are operating outside the law and the votes that come in outside the law should not be counted," Warner declared.
Meanwhile, Common Dreams warns that Trump’s broader strategy involves not only the co-opting of government agencies but also a concerted effort to control the flow of information to the public. The publication asserts that "like every authoritarian before him, Trump is working to co-opt news sources and control what the public sees and hears." In the face of what it describes as mounting pressure on corporate media outlets to "bend the knee," Common Dreams emphasizes its editorial independence, declaring, "We will never be intimidated, and we will never compromise the core values that define our community: social justice, universal human rights, equality, and peace." The outlet credits its financial independence—funded by ordinary citizens—for its ability to resist such pressures.
As the 2026 election cycle approaches, the stakes for American democracy could hardly be higher. With key figures like Warner at the helm of powerful federal agencies, and with the possibility of a national emergency declaration on the horizon, concerns about the integrity of the electoral process are mounting. The coming year will likely see fierce debates over voting rights, the role of federal and state authorities, and the boundaries of executive power. For now, the battle lines are drawn—and the eyes of the nation remain fixed on the unfolding drama in Washington and beyond.
