CNN’s Dana Bash put House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries in the hot seat Sunday on “State of the Union,” pressing him on why Democrats continue to oppose voter ID requirements—even as states like Virginia prove elections can run just fine with them in place. Awkward timing, but facts do have a way of showing up uninvited.
The exchange comes as President Donald Trump urged Republicans to “nationalize the voting” in what he called “crooked” states, arguing on a podcast that Democrat-led states have imported illegal immigrants to pad their voter rolls. Since then, Jeffries has accused Trump of trying to “steal” the 2026 midterm elections. Bash challenged that claim directly, asking why Jeffries wouldn’t support basic ID requirements, even without strict documents like passports or birth certificates.
Jeffries pushed back by saying states should control their own elections and accused Trump of trying to take over the process.
“Well, first of all, every state is empowered to be able to make the decision on their own, and we completely and totally support that,” Jeffries said. “What Donald Trump wants to do is try to nationalize the election — translation: steal it — and we’re not going to let it happen.”
He went further, claiming Democrats stopped Republicans from redrawing congressional maps and accused Trump of attempting to federalize the National Guard to intimidate voters.
“This is going to be a free and fair election,” Jeffries said. “It’s going to be conducted like every other election, where states and localities have the ability to administer the laws.”
Republicans have long pushed for voter ID laws, while Democrats argue such measures could suppress votes. But polling data paints a different picture. A Pew Research Center study from August 2025 found that 83% of Americans support requiring government-issued photo ID to vote. Among those in favor, 71% were Democrats and 95% were Republicans. Apparently, the voters didn’t get the memo that ID is controversial.
Adding to the irony, Jeffries criticized Trump’s call to “nationalize” voting, yet in 2021 he co-sponsored the For the People Act, a bill that would have significantly expanded federal control over state election procedures. At the time, supporters and critics alike warned it could eventually lead to nationalized elections. Funny how that works when the shoe’s on the other foot.
In the end, Bash’s questioning exposed the real tension: Democrats say they want state control, but resist basic safeguards that most Americans already support. Trump’s push for election integrity continues to resonate, and public opinion is firmly on the side of common-sense identification.
As the midterms approach, one thing is clear—Americans want fair elections, clear rules, and proof that every legal vote counts. And judging by the numbers, that’s a position most voters, from both parties, are already comfortable with.
