OAN Staff Brooke Mallory
11:15 AM – Tuesday, July 7, 2026
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) reportedly plans to deploy federal election monitors to three Michigan cities for the upcoming August 4, 2026, primary election.
According to letters sent by the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division to local clerks in Detroit, Lansing, and East Lansing during the final week of June, federal personnel will be dispatched to polling locations to oversee the voting process.
In a specific letter obtained by local media, Timothy Mellett, deputy chief of the DOJ’s Voting Section, wrote directly to Lansing City Clerk Chris Swope, stating, “As part of our assessment of your administration of the federal primary election, we plan to have election monitors at your 2026 primary election.” Mellett also added that federal officials “will contact you a week prior to the election to discuss the particulars of the monitoring effort.”
The federal agency’s letters cited specific operational concerns regarding the state’s 2024 general election as the baseline for the intervention, listing issues such as long lines, a lack of provisional ballots, and technical problems with voter-accessible terminals.
Democrat officials in Michigan quickly fired back, vocally criticizing the DOJ’s stated justifications and casting the federal oversight as a politically motivated maneuver by the Trump administration. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel strongly rebuked the federal agency’s stance in an official statement.
“The courts have been clear time and time again: states run elections, not the federal government,” Nessel asserted. “We encourage everyone to participate and see for themselves how secure and fair our elections are – but make no mistake, my office stands ready to hold accountable those who attempt to unlawfully interfere with or intimidate Michigan election workers.”
Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, who is currently seeking the Democrat nomination for governor, also sharply contested the allegations, defending the “integrity” of the state’s electoral system while clarifying that outside observation is permitted under state parameters.
“Michigan’s elections are transparent, accurate, accessible, and secure,” Benson said. “And while the U.S. Department of Justice continues to pursue baseless allegations to confuse voters about those facts, we welcome anyone who wants to — in compliance with the law — observe Michigan’s election process.”
Additionally, Benson told the public that any observers who follow state guidelines will witness standard, secure protocols, adding that “Voters can trust that their vote is secure, and that clerks will count it according to the law.”
Soon after, a spokesperson for the DOJ downplayed the political friction surrounding the deployment, pointing out that federal election observation is a routine procedure utilized across multiple presidential administrations. The DOJ spokesperson noted that Detroit, Lansing, and East Lansing have each “received Civil Rights Division monitors in past elections under previous administrations as well.”
Meanwhile, state officials have reiterated that “while federal election monitors have a legal right to observe the voting process, they possess no executive authority to alter local election administration or demand unrestricted access to protected voting equipment or sensitive election materials.”
The August 4, 2026, Michigan primary features open-seat battles for both Governor and U.S. Senate.
Governor Race
With incumbent Governor Gretchen Whitmer (D-Mich.) term-limited, both major parties have prominent primaries.
Democrat Primary:
- Jocelyn Benson: Current Michigan Secretary of State.
- Chris Swanson: Genesee County Sheriff.
GOP Primary:
- John James: Current U.S. Representative (Mich.-10).
- Mike Cox: Former Michigan Attorney General.
- Perry Johnson: Businessman and former candidate.
State Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt withdrew from the race but will still appear on the ballot.
U.S. Senate Race
With Democrat incumbent Senator Gary Peters choosing not to run for re-election, this is Michigan’s first wide-open, highly competitive Democrat Senate primary in over three decades.
Democrat Primary:
Haley Stevens: Current U.S. Representative (Mich.-11).
Abdul El-Sayed: Public health administrator and 2018 gubernatorial candidate.
State Senator Mallory McMorrow suspended her campaign on July 5th, but her name remains on the ballot.
Stay informed! Receive breaking news alerts directly to your inbox for free. Subscribe here. https://www.oann.com/alerts
What do YOU think? Click here to jump to the comments!
Sponsored Content Below