Washington, D.C. — Today, Congresswoman Deborah Ross (NC-02) led a bipartisan letter urging the administration to assess how Russia's increasingly sophisticated election interference tactics in Europe could threaten the integrity of the 2026 U.S. midterm elections.

 

In the letter, the lawmakers point to Russia's recent interference campaigns targeting elections in Moldova and Armenia, which relied on coordinated disinformation operations, artificial intelligence (AI), cyberattacks, deepfakes, and other covert influence tactics to undermine democratic institutions. 

 

They warn that these evolving methods should serve as a warning as the United States prepares for the November 2026 elections.

 

The lawmakers wrote: "Russia has continued to develop its election interference strategy by combining traditional influence operations with coordinated online disinformation campaigns and targeted usage of artificial intelligence. Although these attempts ultimately failed to achieve their apparent political goals, they highlight Russia’s willingness to devote substantial financial and technological resources to invisible influence campaigns against democratic elections.”

 

Specifically, the lawmakers request that DOJ and CISA review the tactics Russia employed in the Moldovan and Armenian elections, evaluate whether similar threats could target U.S. elections, and assess whether additional safeguards are needed to protect American voters from foreign interference.

 

Congresswoman Ross serves as a Co-Chair of the Congressional Moldova Caucus, along with Congressman Mike Lawler (NY-17). Last year, the Co-Chairs warned of Russian interference ahead of Moldova’s parliamentary elections. 

 

The letter was cosigned by Representatives Brad Schneider (IL-10), Chris Deluzio (PA-17), Mike Quigley (IL-05), Mike Lawler (NY-17), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25), Eugene Vindman (VA-07), Lloyd Doggett (TX-37), and Don Davis (NC-01).

 

Full text of the letter is available here.

 

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