2020 United States presidential election

Iowa Democrats are hoping the 2026 midterms mark a turning point after nearly a decade of Republican dominance in the statehouse and congressional delegation. Political scientists note Iowa has swung both ways in recent cycles, and Cook Political Report now rates the 1st and 3rd Congressional Districts as leaning Democratic, with the 2nd District a toss-up. The governor's race between Democrat Rob Sand and Republican Zach Lahn also leans Democratic. Analysts cite frustration with GOP control of state and federal government, a large pool of independent voters, bipartisan messaging from candidates like Sand and Senate hopeful Josh Turek, and softer approval ratings for President Trump as factors fueling Democratic optimism ahead of the Nov. 3 election.

With polls suggesting Ken Paxton could lose Texas's U.S. Senate race, Democratic advocates and local officials fear Paxton and the Trump administration might use federal or state power to disrupt voting in Harris County, a Democratic stronghold. Concerns include possible ICE presence near polling places, National Guard involvement, or baseless fraud claims used to contest results, echoing past Trump-era efforts in Georgia, California and Alaska.

Harris County Clerk Teneshia Hudspeth says her office has trained staff, secured legal authority to respond to litigation, and increased transparency through livestreamed ballot counting. Democratic Party officials, elected Democrats, and nonpartisan election experts say safeguards and bipartisan oversight make the county's election process resilient to interference or unfounded fraud claims.

A federal magistrate judge in Miami ruled that President Trump must sit for a deposition with BBC lawyers by Dec. 11 or risk penalties, including possible dismissal of his $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the broadcaster. Trump had skipped a scheduled Oct. 16 deposition, citing other commitments, and proposed mid-January instead; BBC lawyers argued the delay was untenable given his central role in the case.

The suit stems from a 2024 BBC documentary that spliced portions of Trump's Jan. 6, 2021 speech, which he claims misrepresented his remarks and amounted to election interference. The BBC has apologized for the edit but disputes any defamation. The hearing also addressed a BBC subpoena seeking testimony from former special counsel Jack Smith, which Trump's lawyers oppose. Discovery is scheduled to close Dec. 18.

Rep. Tom Tiffany, the Republican candidate for Wisconsin governor, said during a debate that private election funding dubbed "Zuckerbucks" — grants from a Mark Zuckerberg-backed nonprofit that helped Wisconsin communities run elections during the pandemic — was a key reason he objected to certifying the state's 2020 results and backed Trump's bid to disqualify absentee ballots from Milwaukee and Dane counties. Democratic opponent David Crowley called the explanation inadequate, noting Tiffany alleged no actual fraud, and questioned whether Tiffany could be trusted to certify 2028 results. Tiffany pledged he would certify the 2028 election regardless of outcome. Wisconsin voters later banned private election grant funding via constitutional amendment.

U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany, the Republican candidate for Wisconsin governor, said in a debate that private election grants funded by Mark Zuckerberg — dubbed "Zuckerbucks" by critics — drove his support for Trump's efforts to overturn Wisconsin's 2020 results. Tiffany also cited Milwaukee and Dane County clerks allowing "indefinitely confined" voters to skip photo ID requirements. Over 200 Wisconsin communities received roughly $10 million from the Zuckerberg-funded Center for Tech and Civic Life during the pandemic; voters later banned such private election funding via a 2024 constitutional amendment. Democratic opponent David Crowley argued Tiffany's explanation was inadequate and questioned his trustworthiness to certify 2028 results, though Tiffany pledged he would certify regardless of outcome.

U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany, the Republican candidate for Wisconsin governor, said during a debate that his 2020 objection to certifying Wisconsin's presidential election results stemmed from private election-administration grants funded by Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, dubbed "Zuckerbucks" by critics. More than 200 Wisconsin communities received about $10 million from the Zuckerberg-backed Center for Tech and Civic Life during the pandemic. Tiffany also cited Milwaukee and Dane county clerks allowing "indefinitely confined" voters to skip photo ID for absentee ballots. He backed Trump's failed bid to disqualify 220,000 absentee ballots and voted against counting Pennsylvania and Arizona electoral votes. Democratic opponent David Crowley questioned whether Tiffany can be trusted to certify 2028 results; Tiffany said he would.

In a Wisconsin governor's race debate, Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany said his 2020 objections to certifying Wisconsin's election results stemmed from concerns over election funding from Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg, often called "Zuckerbucks." Tiffany pointed to grants from the Zuckerberg-funded Center for Tech and Civic Life, which sent about $10 million to more than 200 Wisconsin communities during the pandemic, and to Milwaukee and Dane county guidance letting voters claim "indefinitely confined" status to get absentee ballots without photo ID. Democratic opponent David Crowley argued Tiffany identified no actual fraud and questioned whether he would certify the 2028 results; Tiffany said he would, "regardless of who the winner is."

Philadelphia's three city commissioners — two Democrats and one Republican — say the city is prepared to run secure, accurate elections despite years of unfounded fraud claims from President Trump, who has repeatedly singled out the city as corrupt and pushed for federal intervention in elections. Officials note Pennsylvania law requires mail ballots to be processed only starting election morning, which slows results but doesn't indicate fraud; past prosecuted cases involved only a handful of ballots. Commissioners Lisa Deeley and Seth Bluestein say they've faced death threats since 2020 but remain focused on building public trust, training poll workers, and preparing contingency plans should federal agents attempt to appear at polling places, which state law restricts.