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Public disputes concerning the 2026 U.S. midterm election cycle, including campaigns, candidates, conventions, advertising, endorsements, and election-related policy promises.
Counts show individual statements. They do not assign an overall position.
3 statements on this page. Dates: March 18, 2026 to September 18, 2026
3 matching statements. Dates: March 18, 2026 to September 18, 2026
3 published statements. Dates: March 18, 2026 to September 18, 2026
1 published statement. Dates: September 18, 2026
1 statement on this page. Dates: September 18, 2026
Role at the time: Secretary of Homeland Security
Statement summary
Asked whether DHS officers were told to pose as voters to obtain records, Mullin denies that the department issued such a directive and says it would fix the problem if the allegation proved true.
“That's absolutely not the directive that we put out there, and it's not even close to what we're doing.”
Bash asked Secretary Mullin whether DHS officers were told to misrepresent themselves to obtain voter records. Mullin denied that this was a DHS directive and said the department would fix the problem if it were true. CNN marks this as a rush transcript.
Mullin explicitly denies that DHS directed officers to misrepresent themselves on voter portals. He says the department would correct such conduct if it occurred.
2 published statements. Dates: March 18, 2026 to September 1, 2026
2 statements on this page. Dates: March 18, 2026 to September 1, 2026
Role at the time: Secretary of Homeland Security
Response to this claim
ICE officers would be at polling places only if there is a threat to the polling place or they are serving a warrant on someone ICE has been actively tracking down.
“I was being very, very clear when I said ICE isn't there to patrol the polling places. We're there to enforce specific threats. The only reason why we would be at polling places if there is a threat to that polling place or we're serving a warrant on someone that we have been actively tracking down. … If we're serving a warrant, we will be where we need to be.”
C-SPAN's recording of Secretary Mullin's news conference at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services New York field office about ICE enforcement operations in New York. The polling-place answer responds to a reporter's question that referred to his Senate confirmation testimony. The quoted wording is our transcription of the video audio.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)The fixed reference point is the administration's stated or threatened use of ICE at or near polling places. Mullin said ICE would not patrol polling places but would be at one for a threat or to serve a warrant, so his position depends on express conditions. Defends or excuses loses because he did not argue for agents at polling places generally, and denies loses because he did not rule out a presence.
Role at the time: Nominee for Secretary of Homeland Security, testifying at his Senate confirmation hearing
Statement summary
Asked by Sen. Elissa Slotkin at his confirmation hearing whether he would have the authority to put uniformed officers at polling locations in 2026, Mullin said, "The only reason why my officers would be there if there was a specific threat for them to be there, not for intimidation". Responding to Sen. Andy Kim's remarks about polling sites, he said, "I don't understand what the concern about enforcing immigration at polling places is anyways".
“The only reason why my officers would be there if there was a specific threat for them to be there, not for intimidation. … I don't understand what the concern about enforcing immigration at polling places is anyways, because honestly, if you're not a citizen, you shouldn't be voting anyway”
C-SPAN's recording of the confirmation hearing for Sen. Markwayne Mullin, President Trump's nominee to succeed Kristi Noem as Homeland Security secretary. Sen. Elissa Slotkin asks whether he would have authority to put uniformed officers at polling locations in 2026, and Sen. Andy Kim raises concerns about enforcement in and around hospitals, schools, churches and polling sites. The quoted wording is our transcription of the video audio.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)The reference point is the administration's stated or threatened use of ICE and other armed federal agents at or near polling places in the 2026 election. Mullin, then a nominee, said his officers would be at a polling place only for a specific threat and did not rule out a presence, and said he did not understand the concern about immigration enforcement there. His position turns on an express condition, so mixed or conditional fits better than defends or excuses or minimizes.
