California judge blasts trump team for threatening election workers in rebuke to midterm plans

Judge blocks prosecution threats

U.S. District Judge Trina Thompson ruled Friday night that the administration could not threaten election workers with criminal prosecution for processing ballots. Her decision came as voting was already underway and workers were handling ballots.

Thompson wrote that voters should be able to cast ballots without fear or intimidation. She said the approaching Election Day and the consequences of waiting justified issuing the ruling without delay.

Court cites pressure on officials

Thompson said senior officials at the Justice Department and Department of Homeland Security had pursued a campaign targeting state and local election staff involved in the 2026 midterms. The administration said its actions aimed to stop unlawful voting by noncitizens.

The judge found those actions were likely to interfere with election work and risk disenfranchising eligible voters. Federal law also provides for a 90-day quiet period before an election, intended to prevent voters from losing their rights without enough time to fix problems.

Other ballot disputes continue

The decision was the administration’s third consecutive court defeat in efforts to block ballots tied to alleged noncitizen voters in California. A separate 2-1 ruling rejected the federal government’s position, with the majority citing the Constitution’s Elections Clause.

In Washington state, the Justice Department is seeking to have officials set aside ballots from at least 400 people it has accused of being noncitizens. The administration may pursue the California dispute at the Supreme Court, with Election Day on Tuesday.

Election groups welcome ruling

The union is among the groups suing the Trump administration. Moran said election workers help make democracy function and that the ruling supported Americans’ freedom to vote.