NAACP Joins Pro-Voter Coalition to Intervene in DOJ Lawsuit to Protect California Voters Ahead of Midterms

For Immediate Release

Contact Information:

NAACP, Chyna Fields: [email protected]

Campaign Legal Center: [email protected]
LULAC, David Cruz: [email protected]
Democracy Defenders Fund: [email protected]

Date: October 16, 2026

LOS ANGELES - Today, Campaign Legal Center (CLC), Democracy Defenders Fund (DDF), and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Office of General Counsel, on behalf of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) and the NAACP, NAACP California/Hawaii State Conference (NAACP CA/HI), and NAACP Los Angeles Branch moved to intervene as defendants in a case brought by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) that threatens to disenfranchise over 20,000 voters in California.

On October 14, 2026, the DOJ sent a letter to the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk and California Secretary of State Shirley Weber demanding that they separate and refuse to count over 20,000 Angelenos' ballots, based on a list of allegedly ineligible voters that the federal government constructed using methods they refused to disclose to state and local election officials. Immediately after the DOJ sued the state of California, our pro-voter coalition filed a motion to intervene in this case in order to protect Californians' freedom to vote in the midterm elections, which are already underway in the lead-up to Election Day on November 3.

"Once again, this Justice Department is resorting to unlawful and unprecedented tactics in order to hijack the midterm election. This latest attempt to disenfranchise voters comes as voting is actively underway," said Kristen Clarke, NAACP General Counsel. "The NAACP remains vigilant and will swiftly move to safeguard the right to vote in the face of this administration's ongoing voter suppression campaign. We will continue to fight for a democracy in which everyone is able to exercise their voice at the ballot box."

"This lawsuit by the DOJ is yet another example of the Trump administration attempting to interfere in our elections and upend settled election procedures to create chaos and confusion," said Danielle Lang, Campaign Legal Center's vice president for voting rights and rule of law. "Our elections are safe and secure. Yet the federal government is continuing its efforts to put up barriers to the ballot box by spreading misinformation and relying on faulty and unreliable data to disenfranchise voters. We're moving to join this case to ensure that all eligible voters can make their voices heard in the 2026 midterm elections."

"It is shameful that the United States Department of Justice is targeting the Latino community and spreading lies about our elections," said Juan Proaño, chief executive officer of LULAC. "We will not stand by while they attempt to deny any American's vote based on unverified claims. The DOJ wants California to set aside ballots without establishing whether those people are actually eligible to vote. Latino voters should not have to fear that their ballots will be singled out and left uncounted because the federal government cannot get its facts straight."

"The Trump administration is desperate because they are afraid of a fair election they cannot control. This attack on California voters is just the latest in their effort to undermine confidence in the coming election and create a pretext to attack the results," said Tianna Mays of Democracy Defenders Fund. "The administration is asking a court to stop California from counting ballots based on allegations it has not proven, just weeks before Election Day. If Trump can convince Americans that legitimate votes are fraudulent, he can use those same accusations to challenge the results when they don't go his way. This lawsuit is about giving Trump another excuse to reject an election he loses."

Background:

On October 14, 2026, the DOJ sent a letter to the Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk in Los Angeles County and California Secretary of State Shirley Weber along with a thumb drive of over 20,000 voters whom the DOJ alleges are ineligible to vote, based on faulty data.

The DOJ demanded that Los Angeles separate and refuse to count these ballots, despite there being no credible evidence that these voters are ineligible. On October 15, 2026, the DOJ sued the state of California for refusing to comply with their orders, despite the fact that these voters were targeted based on faulty and incomplete citizenship data using a shoddy and opaque methodology.

Since the beginning of his second term, President Donald Trump and his administration have renewed their efforts to undermine Americans' freedom to vote. They've attempted to seize sensitive voter data from the states, unlawfully change the way our elections are run, and limit Americans' access to the ballot. All of these attempts have failed, and groups like Campaign Legal Center, Democracy Defenders Fund, LULAC and NAACP will continue to fight to protect our democracy and push back on overreach by the executive branch.

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About NAACP

The NAACP advocates, agitates, and litigates for the civil rights due to Black America. Our legacy is built on the foundation of grassroots activism by the biggest civil rights pioneers of the 20th century and is sustained by 21st century activists. From classrooms and courtrooms to city halls and Congress, our network of members across the country works to secure the social and political power that will end race-based discrimination. That work is rooted in racial equity, civic engagement, and supportive policies and institutions for all marginalized people. We are committed to a world without racism where Black people enjoy equitable opportunities in thriving communities.

NOTE: The Legal Defense Fund - also referred to as the NAACP-LDF - was founded in 1940 as a part of the NAACP, but now operates as a completely separate entity.