“[At a Capitol Hill press roundtable after a classified election-threat briefing:] And the state of play, I would argue, is that, you know, Russia, similar to prior occasions, is going after Democrats. … [Every election cycle since 2016, Russia has spread disinformation to undermine Democrats.] That's just a factual basis.
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Warner, Himes: Russia Targeting Midterms
Thirteen Days Before the Midterms, the Top Democrats on the Intelligence Committees Say a Classified Briefing Shows Russia Is "Going After Democrats" and Ukraine Supporters — Jim Himes Says "the Russians Are Kind of Throwing Everything Out There," but "Nothing Out There Suggests" Anyone Can Change the Results
October 21, 2026
What happened▸
On Oct. 21, 2026, Sen. Mark Warner and Rep. Jim Himes, the top Democrats on the Senate and House intelligence committees, spoke to reporters at a Capitol Hill roundtable. They had just received a classified briefing on foreign threats to the Nov. 3 midterms, which they requested from Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton on Oct. 2. Both said the briefing showed Russia running a disinformation and influence campaign aimed at Democratic candidates and at supporters of Ukraine in both parties, as it did in 2016, 2020 and 2024. Warner pointed to news reports that AI-generated fake ads were hitting Texas Senate nominee James Talarico and Sen. Jon Ossoff of Georgia. Himes said China's efforts remain "extremely targeted" and named Iran and North Korea too. He said Iran could "take a couple of extra shots at ships in the Strait of Hormuz" to drive up oil prices and shift American voters.
Both said they had seen no sign that any foreign government could tamper with voting machines or change results. They said they would publicly contradict any claim by the president that foreign interference justified disputing the outcome if he had not briefed them on it. They said they could not describe specifics because the material is classified. The White House, ODNI and the Russian embassy did not immediately comment. The Chinese embassy called Himes's remark "a false allegation and serious smear."
See what your representatives said?
4 Statements
“[Same roundtable, on whether the intelligence shows any threat to the vote count itself, and on what lawmakers would ask if the president cited intelligence to dispute results:] Do we expect disinformation? Yes. Do we expect specific election interference with the machinery of our electoral system? … We've not seen that. … What is the basis of this intelligence? What is the source of this intelligence?
“[Same roundtable:] The Russians are kind of throwing everything out there — chaos, don't trust your institutions, voting machines. … They're throwing everything out there to generate a sense of chaos and anarchy. … Nothing out there suggests that there is either the capability or the intent to do interference.
“[Same roundtable, on preparing for a president who claims foreign interference without briefing Congress — saying he would go on television to say no such information had been shared:] We are making the assumption that all the stops will be pulled out. … Now, does that end the crisis? No, but that's the first step.