Donald Trump targets US election officials and candidates

President Donald Trump has moved beyond rhetoric to legal action regarding the US electoral system. The Department of Justice has issued subpoenas as part of investigations into a Democratic Senate candidate in Alaska. Additionally, subpoenas were issued to election officials in California in late October.

Trump has instructed lawyers to challenge a potential victory by Democrat Mary Peltola in the Alaska Senate race. This challenge stems from the presence of a second candidate on the ballot with the same name as the current Republican Senator, Dan Sullivan. Following reports suggesting the Peltola campaign may be linked to this second candidacy, Trump suggested the individual should face criminal prosecution.

These actions follow years of claims by Trump that elections are fraudulent when his party loses. His recent use of the Department of Justice to target political opponents and election administrators marks a shift from campaign speech to institutional pressure.