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With Misinformation and Threats of Interference Coming from White House in Lead-up to November Elections, Kennedy Highlights Need to Maintain Independence of State-run Elections

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Tim Kennedy (NY-26) participated in a Homeland Security Committee hearing focused on protecting American elections from federal overreach, using the platform to underscore what is at stake for voters in Western New York and across the country. Kennedy warned that efforts to undermine confidence in elections and interfere with state-run systems threaten the democratic process and jeopardize the fundamental right of every eligible citizen to have their voice heard and their vote counted.

“Our colleagues across the aisle are driving forward an agenda that would restrict voter access,” said Congressman Kennedy. “I had the opportunity to serve in the New York State Senate for the better part of fourteen years and was very proud to help transform our election laws in New York to improve access, security, and transparency. That included increasing absentee ballot drop boxes, expanding early voting sites, voting by mail, and improving election misinformation protections. The last priority is particularly essential, given that this President is actively working to sow misinformation in our elections, undermine state procedures and protections, and block access to the ballot box as part of a larger effort to ensure he sees the election results he wants later this year.”

(Kennedy’s full committee remarks here.)

Misinformation and unfounded claims about election fraud have serious consequences for communities across the country. In Western New York, where local officials work to administer elections with limited resources, these narratives erode public trust, strain election systems, and make it more difficult for eligible voters to participate with confidence. Kennedy underscored that maintaining both access and security in elections is critical to preserving democratic participation at every level.

Kennedy also raised concerns about the weakening of federal support for election security infrastructure, noting that cuts to key programs and personnel leave state and local officials without the tools needed to protect voting systems from both cyber threats and physical intimidation. For communities like Western New York, this shift increases the burden on local governments while exposing voters and election workers to heightened risks, including harassment and politically motivated interference.

With the 2026 congressional, state, and local elections approaching, Kennedy called for a renewed commitment to safeguarding democratic institutions and rejecting efforts that would restrict access to the ballot, stressing that Republican policies to centralize control over elections or impose unnecessary barriers risk disenfranchising millions of eligible Americans.

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