Alex Padilla: “I’d be a firm no until lawmakers agree that federal immigration officers need to be held accountable.”

Still, this incident is a stark reminder of the very real dangers facing those who serve the public and who help administer our elections in the face of increasingly hostile political rhetoric — especially from Donald Trump.

The 2026 midterm elections have begun. We urge you to immediately reaffirm that the Department will forgo any actions that would interfere with the lawful administration of the 2026 elections.

I know how California elections work very, very well. They’re safe, they’re secure. They’re fair, they’re free, and they’re going to stay that way.

Any DOJ action that could spoil an election would be one of the most serious constitutional violations imaginable.