On The Rachel Maddow Show, Rachel Maddow recently laid out three distinct avenues Donald Trump and his allies may use to manipulate the administration of U.S. elections—approaches carefully designed to subvert democracy without canceling elections outright.

Journalist and historian Garrett Graff joined Maddow to discuss how these strategies could effectively undermine electoral integrity.

Here’s a breakdown of what they revealed—and what it means for the 2026 midterms.

The Three Avenues of Election Subversion

Drawing on the framework outlined by election law experts like Richard L. Hasen, Rachel Maddow highlighted three main methods that could enable election subversion in the United States:

Disqualification of Votes via Partisan Legal Maneuvers
This involves partisan bodies or legislatures asserting the authority to disqualify votes, potentially overriding or discarding them based on disputes or arbitrary standards. For example, proponents of the “independent state legislature” theory have argued that state legislatures could unilaterally appoint electors regardless of popular outcomes—though the Supreme Court rejected that theory in Moore v. Harper (2023).

Election Administration Undermined Through Insecure or Partisan Systems
Weakening electoral infrastructure or placing partisan operatives in key administrative roles can create confusion, distrust, and opportunities for interference—even without direct vote tampering. Disinformation, lax security protocols, or undermining faith in election machines and ballots all contribute to this avenue.

Delaying or Disrupting Vote Counting and Certification
Through legal or administrative obstruction—or simply sowing doubt—actors can delay results, challenge tallies, and suppress legitimate outcomes. In extreme cases, state legislatures might usurp certification or even designate electors themselves, effectively overriding the popular vote through procedural or legal maneuvers.

Garrett Graff Weighs In: Subverting Democracy Without Shutting Elections Down

Garrett Graff, a respected journalist and historian, joined Maddow to offer further insight into how these strategies could unfold in practice—especially as the U.S. approaches the 2026 midterm elections (currently just over a year and a half away).

Graff emphasized how election denial narratives—false claims that the electoral system is rigged—are being weaponized to justify and normalize these disruptions. These narratives lay the groundwork for legislative and administrative maneuvers that degrade democratic norms.

He noted the rise of organized efforts—such as deploying thousands of attorneys and poll watchers in key battleground states, setting up “election integrity” operations that blur lines between legitimate oversight and intimidation.

Crucially, Graff warned that subversion doesn’t require overt authoritarian steps—no need to cancel elections. Instead, by manipulating procedures, certifications, and public perception, these strategies can effectively lock in control while maintaining the facade of democracy.

By laying out these three paths—vote disqualification, insecure administration, and delayed certification—Rachel Maddow and Garrett Graff provide a crucial roadmap for recognizing how democracy may be manipulated ahead of 2026. Their conversation underscores a sobering reality: The threat lies not in canceled elections, but in compromised ones.

But naming these tactics is the first step to countering them. Let me know if you’d like to dive deeper—perhaps exploring current state legislation, historical precedents, or strategies activists are developing to safeguard elections.