Padilla, Schumer Announce Recruitment of 100 + Senate Staff and Plans to Deploy to Nine States Ahead of Midterms

First-of-its-kind Senate program will put trained congressional observers on the ground to document any voter interference or threats to election workers in 2026 midterm Senate contests as Trump escalates efforts to undermine election integrity WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration and California’s former Secretary of State, and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) announced that more than 100 Senate Democratic staff have been recruited and trained as official congressional election observers to be deployed to polling sites across nine states. Trained staff will serve as official congressional observers and document any attempted voter interference, threats against election workers, misinformation, disinformation, or other attempts to meddle with elections, both on Election Day and in the post-election canvass and certification process. Padilla and Schumer launched Senate Democrats’ participation in the first-of-its-kind Senate Election Observer Program in June to counter Trump’s ongoing election threats and to promote transparency, protect voter confidence, and ensure the Senate has objective, on-the-ground information in Senate races. “Donald Trump has made clear that he wants to ‘take over the voting’ in state-run elections. Election interference is unconstitutional and illegal and Congress will be watching,” said Senator Padilla . “We’ve recruited more than 100 Senate staffers to serve as official election observers across nine states to document potential voter interference, threats against election workers, and attempts to undermine the democratic process. Every eligible American deserves to cast a ballot free from intimidation, and every vote deserves to be counted fairly. We’re taking this step to ensure that any attempt to interfere with the right to vote is documented, exposed and met with accountability.” “Donald Trump is trying to steal the election – but Democrats and the American people won’t let him,” said Leader Schumer .“Our elections are free and secure, but we cannot take that for granted. I am grateful for the Senate staff members who are raising their hand to help build trust in our upcoming election and protect the sanctity of our democracy. Trump has fought harder to rig the elections than he has to bring down costs. His record-breaking unpopularity comes from his agenda failing families, and no amount of his election meddling can change that. The voters will decide the next election—not Trump.” The prepared deployment comes with nearly 20 days until Election Day and as President Trump continues to sow doubt in the integrity of American elections and threaten the foundations of free and fair voting. His Administration has pushed sweeping voter roll purges, issued executive orders aimed at restricting voting, sought to limit mail-in and absentee voting, and pressed Congress to pass the so-called SAVE America Act . The Administration has also faced allegations of unlawful efforts to access state voter data. The Senate Election Observer Program will not interfere with election officials in the performance of their duties or seek to influence election results in any way. It will: Put trained congressional observers on the ground: Train and designate Democratic Senators’ official staff to observe polling locations and sites where ballots are counted and elections are canvassed and certified Document any election interference: Deter election interference, promote confidence in American elections, and help ensure free and fair elections in 2026. Observe and record any election issues, including potential instances of voter interference, threats targeting election workers, impacts of election misinformation or disinformation, and any issues regarding the canvass or certification of elections Strengthen congressional oversight: Gather on-the-ground information about U.S. Senate elections to assist the Senate Rules Committee in addressing any potentially contested Senate elections. Inform the Committee’s legislative and oversight work related to election administration Operate under established authority: The same authority as the long-running House of Representatives’ Election Observer Program Senate Democrats’ Election Observer Program is similar to the long-running program in the House of Representatives and follows the October 2024 passage of the Confirmation of Congressional Observer Access (COCOA) Act , which confirmed the constitutional authority of Congress, specifically the Chair and Ranking Members of the Committee on House Administration and Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, to designate congressional election observers. Senate Republicans are also launching a program under the same authority. As Ranking Member of the Senate Rules Committee with oversight over federal elections and California’s former Secretary of State and chief election officer, Padilla has championed election security and voting rights issues. Last month, Padilla introduced the Freedom From Intimidation Act , legislation to prohibit firearms at polling places to protect voters and poll workers. Padilla also demanded DHS Secretary Mullin immediately halt election interference efforts and led the congressional response to the bombshell whistleblower report that DHS agents violated state laws as part of the “Unlawful Voter Initiative.” In August, Padilla led 27 of his Senate colleagues in demanding the Trump Administration stop their illegal voter roll purges before Election Day. ###