Former CNN commentator Angela Rye claimed on Friday that she believes President Donald Trump and the Republican Party “stole” the 2024 presidential election and may try to do the same in the upcoming 2026 midterms.
Speaking on her Native Land Pod podcast, Rye expressed skepticism about whether the next election would even happen as planned.
“I don’t really know if this thing’s going to damn happen,” she told co-host and former MSNBC anchor Tiffany Cross. “Even if they are going to happen, are they going to cheat like they did—I still feel like they did—in the 2024 election?”
Rye admitted she had no hard evidence but insisted her instincts, and what she described as spiritual intuition, told her something was wrong.
“I don’t have data. I got a gut feeling,” she said. “But I’m going to tell you about the Black woman and the Holy Ghost — we be spot on.”
Growing Doubts from the Left
While Cross didn’t go as far as Rye in accusing Republicans of outright theft, she did say the 2024 election “may require some investigation” based on what she’s heard. Cross agreed that looking forward to the midterms seemed increasingly pointless.
“Even if they did [steal it], okay, it’s here now,” Cross said. “They’ve already instituted this authoritarian regime… I don’t know any post-industrialized country that has come this far into authoritarianism and turned around.”
She argued that marginalized groups—especially Black Americans and women—have never fully experienced “free and fair” elections, and questioned the notion that democracy could be restored in under two years.
“Why do we think, all of a sudden, we’re going to have free and fair elections for midterms? I just don’t think so,” she said.
A Divided Response
Not everyone on the left shares their skepticism. Former Florida gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum pushed back, saying that despite frustration with the system, it’s vital to maintain faith in the electoral process and continue participating.
Still, doubts about 2026 are gaining traction in progressive circles. Figures including Joy Reid, James Carville, Charlemagne Tha God, Don Lemon, and comedian Kathy Griffin have all voiced concerns in recent weeks about the integrity of future elections.
“Whenever Democrats say, ‘This is why we have to coalesce for 2026,’ I always add, ‘Yeah—assuming we actually have free and fair elections,’” Reid said during a recent Substack conversation with writer Wajahat Ali. “It’s insane to assume next year’s elections will be normal.”
As the political climate grows more polarized, accusations of election tampering are no longer coming exclusively from the right—many on the left now say they’re bracing for a 2026 vote they fear may already be compromised.
