Schumer tells the AP Democrats are preparing for Trump to disrupt and dispute the midterms: Q&A

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer expressed concerns about potential interference in the upcoming midterm elections by Republican President Donald Trump during a wide-ranging interview with The Associated Press. The New York Democrat also highlighted how immigration raids in major cities are creating what he describes as “chaos” that voters will reject at the polls.

Speaking by telephone for approximately 20 minutes, Schumer noted that former Alaska Representative Mary Peltola’s entry into the Senate race provides Democrats with a stronger pathway to regaining the Senate majority. According to Schumer, economic concerns have solidified in voters’ minds, and Democrats plan to build their campaign around what they characterize as the “costs, chaos, and corruption” of the Trump administration.

The White House has dismissed these Democratic assertions as “fearmongering” designed to score political points.

When asked about concerns that Trump might attempt to prevent a fair midterm election and potentially dispute the results, Schumer acknowledged these worries. “We share them, and we already have teams of both senators and lawyers looking at every way that Trump could try to screw things up, and we’re fighting against it,” he said.

The Democratic leader emphasized that his party is actively preparing to ensure votes are counted fairly, noting that many election mechanisms remain under state control. “Even in red states, there’s resistance to Trump interfering,” Schumer said, adding that while “Trump will do whatever it takes, and he has no honor and no credibility and no respect for law… we are prepared for it, and we believe we will succeed.”

Schumer also addressed the impact of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids on the political landscape, suggesting that voters are reacting negatively to the resulting disorder. “People don’t like chaos. They see that cities and mayors who were perfectly calm and safe are now undergoing all of this chaos,” he said. The senator pointed to what he sees as inconsistency in Trump’s approach to protesters, claiming the president supports protesters in Iran while “going after protesters and other innocent civilians in Minneapolis.”

On economic issues, Schumer identified cost of living as the primary concern for American families. “The number one thing that bothers American families is they can’t pay all the bills,” he stated. Democrats plan to focus on five key areas to address rising costs: health care, housing, tariffs, food prices, and child care.

The minority leader criticized Trump’s policies on health care, energy, and tariffs, arguing they have increased financial burdens on Americans. “People now realize that Trump is hurting them,” Schumer said, suggesting that Republicans are “in a bubble” and failing to understand voters’ economic concerns.

Regarding the electoral landscape, Schumer expressed growing optimism about Democrats’ chances in both the House and Senate races. While acknowledging initial skepticism about the party’s ability to reclaim the Senate, he stated that “the difference between the likelihood of winning the House and the likelihood of winning the Senate has greatly decreased.”

When asked about younger and non-white voters who shifted toward Trump in the previous election, Schumer pointed to recent Democratic victories in Virginia, Georgia, and across the country as evidence that voters are reconsidering their support for the president. “Voters, young and old, poor and middle class, don’t think Trump was serving them well,” he said, attributing these shifts largely to Democrats’ focus on economic issues affecting Americans’ daily lives.

The interview highlights the intensifying political tensions as both parties position themselves for the crucial midterm elections, with Democrats seeking to leverage economic concerns and opposition to Trump’s governance style to reclaim congressional majorities.