State election officials across the country have been invited to an FBI briefing on preparations for the 2026 midterm elections — a move some officials describe as unusual amid escalating tensions between state governments and the Trump administration over control of elections.
The invitation, scheduled for Feb. 25, was sent days after a contentious meeting in Washington, D.C., highlighted growing friction between federal officials and the state administrators who oversee elections. According to an election official who received the invitation, the briefing will include representatives from the FBI, the Justice Department, the Department of Homeland Security, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Election Assistance Commission.
The invitation was first reported by Crooked Media and later confirmed by NBC News. It was signed by Kellie M. Hardiman, who identified herself as an “FBI Election Executive,” a title unfamiliar to many state officials. Public records indicate Hardiman was appointed to her role roughly seven months ago.
An election official who requested anonymity said the outreach was unexpected and has sparked confusion among recipients.
“No one has heard of this person, and we’re all wondering what an ‘FBI Election Executive’ is,” the official said, adding that they expect officials from all states to be invited and plan to attend to better understand the purpose of the meeting.
The Justice Department did not immediately respond to requests for clarification about the briefing. According to the invitation, the meeting is intended to “discuss preparations for the cycle, as well as updates and resources we can provide to you and your staff.”
The timing has intensified scrutiny. Just last week, state officials gathered at a meeting of the National Association of Secretaries of State pushed back against a Trump administration representative who spoke about federal support for election administration. That exchange underscored growing concern among states that federal agencies are overstepping their traditional advisory role.
The broader context includes a series of aggressive federal actions related to elections. The Justice Department is currently suing dozens of states seeking access to voter roll data. Separately, the FBI recently conducted a raid on a county elections office in Fulton County, Georgia, seizing hundreds of boxes of election materials connected to the 2020 election.
President Donald Trump, who continues to falsely claim he won the 2020 election, has repeatedly promoted election conspiracy theories. In recent comments, he suggested the federal government should take direct control of voting in parts of the country.
“The Republicans ought to nationalize the voting,” Trump said during an interview on a conservative podcast, proposing federal intervention in “many” jurisdictions he claims are at risk of fraud.
Under the U.S. Constitution, states are primarily responsible for administering elections, though Congress retains limited authority to regulate certain aspects of federal contests. Historically, federal agencies have offered technical guidance and security assistance but have avoided directing election operations.
For many state officials, the FBI’s invitation — while framed as a preparatory briefing — is being viewed through the lens of that shifting balance of power. As the midterm elections approach, the meeting is likely to heighten debate over where the line lies between election security coordination and federal intrusion.
