# Why 26 Secretary of State Races Matter More

> 2026 secretary of state races now decide how states respond to Trump’s federal election authority push.
- Title: Why 26 Secretary of State Races Matter More · The Conversation
- Summary: 2026 secretary of state races now decide how states respond to Trump’s federal election authority push. 2026 secretary of state elections will determine…
- Keywords: secretary of state, trump administration, 2026 midterm elections, election integrity, federal election authority, voter rolls, election deniers, 2020 us elections, election administration, science, ideas, Secretary
- Source: The Conversation — https://theconversation.com/why-the-26-secretary-of-state-races-this-november-matter-more-than-they-did-before-trumps-drive-to-assert-federal-authority-over-elections-293751
- Author: Thom Reilly
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: secretary of state, trump administration, 2026 midterm elections, election integrity, federal election authority, voter rolls, election deniers, 2020 us elections, election administration, science, ideas
## Secretary of state role
Secretaries of state supervise election procedures and certify results in most states.
## 2020 election impact
2020 election thrust secretaries of state into battles over results and false fraud claims.
## 2022 election deniers
13 election-denying candidates reached 2022 general election, only three won.
## 2026 contests
26 states hold secretary of state races this November.
## State election authority
States control election administration, but federal efforts seek to expand federal authority over elections.
## DOJ voter list demand
DOJ sued 30 states by April 2026 for voter registration lists under Civil Rights Act.
## State responses to DOJ
18 Republican-led states provided voter information to federal government by October 2026.
## Federal court blocks DOJ
Federal court struck down DOJ’s nationwide voter list collection policy on Oct 9, 2026.
## 2026 election integrity order
Trump issued executive order requiring citizenship proof for federal voter registration in March 2026.
## Key takeaway

2026 secretary of state elections will determine state responses to Trump’s federal efforts to control election administration.