Alex Padilla: “I can assure you, Mr. Secretary, the devastation is real.”

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.

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.

This incident is a stark reminder of the very real danger facing those who serve the public and who help administer our elections in the face of increasingly hostile political rhetoric.

The truth is simple: our elections are safe and secure; the widespread voter fraud that Trump has claimed for 10 years does not exist.