By Emmanuel Bobby
Officials in Atlanta, Philadelphia and Detroit this week vowed to defend local control of elections after President Donald Trump suggested that Republicans should “nationalize” voting, later singling out the three cities by name.
“The Republicans should say, ‘We want to take over. We should take over the voting in at least — many, 15 places,’” Trump said during a podcast appearance Monday. “The Republicans ought to nationalize the voting.” The comments sparked alarm and swift backlash from election officials and political leaders nationwide.
Under Article I of the Constitution, states are responsible for setting the “times, places and manner” of congressional elections, though Congress may establish broad regulations. Administration of elections has historically remained a state and local function.
In Georgia, the remarks struck a particularly sensitive nerve. They came just days after the FBI searched a Fulton County election hub for records related to the 2020 presidential election. Trump has repeatedly and falsely claimed that Georgia’s 2020 results were stolen from him, despite former President Joe Biden’s certified victory.
“I committed to the voters of Fulton County — and the world — that we will use every resource at our disposal to fight for their vote,” said Robb Pitts, chair of the Fulton County Board of Commissioners, on Wednesday. “We will fight against those who seek to take over our elections.”
“Our Constitution itself is at stake in this fight,” Pitts added. “The Constitution is the law of the land. It is not a suggestion.”
Trump again referenced Georgia in his Monday remarks, telling former FBI deputy director Dan Bongino that “interesting things” would soon emerge from court-ordered access to ballots — claims that state officials have dismissed.
Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, a Republican running for governor in 2026, rejected Trump’s allegations as stale and unfounded.
“I urge lawmakers to focus on strengthening state administration of elections rather than rehashing the same outdated claims — or worse, moving to federalize a core function of state government,” Raffensperger said in a statement outlining his own election reform proposals.
On Wednesday, Trump attempted to walk back his language, saying in an interview that he did not say “national,” but was referring to areas he described as “extremely corrupt.” He specifically named Atlanta, Detroit and Philadelphia.
All three cities have large Black populations, voted overwhelmingly against Trump in his presidential runs, and are major population centers in swing states he lost in 2020. Trump has repeatedly alleged voter fraud in each city without evidence.
In Philadelphia, City Commissioner Lisa Deely dismissed the president’s comments as a distraction.
“We all know the president’s playbook by now,” Deely said in a written statement. “His remarks on elections are an effort to change the conversation from topics that aren’t favorable to him. We must be careful and keep our eyes on the ball.”
In Detroit, City Clerk Janice Winfrey defended the city’s election record, calling any federal takeover deeply political.
“Detroit has a history of fair and transparent election administration,” Winfrey said. “Any move to take over Detroit elections would be partisan politics at its worst.”
“Our elections were fair and transparent before 2020, in 2020, and in every election since,” added Winfrey, who serves in a nonpartisan role.
The pushback extended well beyond local officials. All 24 Democratic governors signed a joint statement condemning Trump’s proposal as “undemocratic.”
“President Trump’s threats to remove the ability of states to run their own elections is an undemocratic attempt to silence the American people who are rejecting his costly and divisive agenda,” the governors said in a statement led by Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear.
Some national Republicans also distanced themselves from the idea. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said Tuesday that he is “not in favor” of nationalizing elections, signaling resistance within Trump’s own party.
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