In a fiery statement that has drawn national attention, Delaware State Senator Sarah McBride, the first openly transgender state senator in U.S. history, accused former President Donald Trump of waging an “all-out assault” on American democracy. Her remarks came in response to Trump’s renewed calls to eliminate mail-in ballots and voting machines, two methods of voting that have become flashpoints in ongoing debates over election integrity.
McBride, a Democrat and candidate for Delaware’s at-large congressional seat, spoke out after Trump suggested that future elections should rely solely on in-person, paper ballots counted by hand. The former president, still insisting—without evidence—that the 2020 election was stolen, has made election restrictions a centerpiece of his political comeback. For McBride, these proposals are not just misguided but dangerous.
“Donald Trump’s efforts to eliminate voting machines and mail-in ballots are part of an all-out assault on American democracy,” McBride said. “Our democracy works best when we expand access to the ballot box, not when we strip away the tools that make voting secure, accessible, and fair.”
McBride’s comments place her squarely in the middle of the national fight over voting rights and election security. Voting machines have been widely used for decades across Republican- and Democratic-led states alike, with bipartisan election officials affirming their security. Mail-in voting, meanwhile, surged during the COVID-19 pandemic, when millions of Americans sought safe ways to cast ballots. While some states have long used universal mail-in voting without significant issues, Trump and his allies have repeatedly attacked the method, claiming it enables fraud—despite dozens of courts, audits, and bipartisan election administrators confirming otherwise.
For McBride, the issue isn’t just about logistics—it’s about the survival of democratic institutions. She has consistently framed voting rights as central to her political mission, noting that marginalized communities, including LGBTQ+ Americans, people of color, and low-income voters, often face disproportionate barriers to casting ballots.
“Mail-in voting has provided countless seniors, military families, working parents, and disabled voters with a reliable way to make their voices heard,” she said. “Taking away these options isn’t about security—it’s about silencing people.”
McBride’s remarks also highlight the symbolic weight of her role in the debate. As the highest-ranking openly transgender elected official in the United States, her voice resonates in conversations about inclusivity and representation. Her framing of Trump’s efforts as an “all-out assault” connects the fight over voting methods to the broader struggle for equality and fairness in American democracy.
Political analysts note that Trump’s push to remove voting machines and mail-in ballots is unlikely to succeed nationally but could influence Republican-led states where lawmakers are already pursuing tighter restrictions. In recent years, states like Texas, Georgia, and Arizona have passed laws limiting mail-in voting, shortening early voting windows, or imposing stricter ID requirements. Critics argue these laws are designed to suppress turnout, especially among Democratic-leaning constituencies.
Supporters of Trump’s position argue that voting should return to what they see as its “simplest and most secure form”—in-person paper ballots counted on Election Day. They claim this would restore public trust in elections, though studies consistently show that both mail-in ballots and electronic voting machines are secure and subject to rigorous safeguards.
By speaking out, McBride joins a growing chorus of Democrats who warn that Trump’s rhetoric and proposals pose a long-term threat to democratic norms. Her remarks echo President Joe Biden’s repeated warnings that the former president’s false claims about voter fraud undermine confidence in the electoral system and erode faith in the peaceful transfer of power.
McBride’s entry into the national spotlight comes as she campaigns for Delaware’s at-large House seat, vacated by Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester, who is running for the U.S. Senate. If elected, McBride would become the first openly transgender member of Congress—a historic milestone that underscores the growing visibility of LGBTQ+ leaders in American politics.
For now, McBride is making it clear that she views the fight over election rules as a defining issue. “This is bigger than any one election or candidate,” she said. “It’s about protecting the right of every American to have their voice heard, no matter who they are, where they live, or how they cast their vote.”
As debates over voting rights continue to intensify heading into the 2024 election, McBride’s warning underscores what many see as the stakes: whether American democracy will be strengthened through inclusivity—or weakened by restrictions that cut people out of the process.
