Texas Republican group seeks to block certification of state’s election
News Source
•Thu, 29 Oct 2026 18:40:01 +0000
📰 What Happened
A Texas group linked to the Republican Party has asked a federal judge to stop the state certifying its midterm election results. The Potter County Republican Party and its chairman, Daniel Rogers, filed the lawsuit on Tuesday. They want every ballot in Texas counted by hand before results are signed off.
The suit claims AI or “malicious actors” could interfere with voting machines. It says the machines contain parts made in China. The filing admits no past election in the county was changed by an outside party.
Polls show Democrat James Talarico slightly ahead of Republican Ken Paxton in the Texas Senate race. That race could decide which party controls the Senate after November 3. The state's top election office says it will not comment.
🔍 The Backstory
Texas law already requires hand-count audits where electronic machines are used. The plaintiffs argue that is not enough, because officials must compare a full hand count to the machine count. President Trump declassified documents in July that he said showed Chinese meddling in 2020. No evidence has shown Beijing changed that vote.
The Justice Department also tried last week to block certification of an election in Alaska. It claimed an independent candidate with the same name as the Republican senator was there to confuse voters.
🎯 Why It Matters
If courts can delay results, voters may lose trust in elections. The fight also matters because the Senate race could decide who controls Congress.
A Texas group linked to the Republican Party has asked a federal judge to stop the state certifying its midterm election results. The Potter County Republican Party and its chairman, Daniel Rogers, filed the lawsuit on Tuesday. They want every ballot in Texas counted by hand before results are signed off.
The suit claims AI or “malicious actors” could interfere with voting machines. It says the machines contain parts made in China. The filing admits no past election in the county was changed by an outside party.
Polls show Democrat James Talarico slightly ahead of Republican Ken Paxton in the Texas Senate race. That race could decide which party controls the Senate after November 3. The state's top election office says it will not comment.
Texas law already requires hand-count audits where electronic machines are used. The plaintiffs argue that is not enough, because officials must compare a full hand count to the machine count. President Trump declassified documents in July that he said showed Chinese meddling in 2020. No evidence has shown Beijing changed that vote.
The Justice Department also tried last week to block certification of an election in Alaska. It claimed an independent candidate with the same name as the Republican senator was there to confuse voters.
If courts can delay results, voters may lose trust in elections. The fight also matters because the Senate race could decide who controls Congress.