RICHMOND, Va. -- Governor Terry McAuliffe yesterday renewed his commitment to free and fair elections in the Commonwealth with his repudiation of the Trump Administration's invasive request for Virginia voter data.

In a veiled effort to distract the American public, President Trump is pressuring states to reveal sensitive voter information, including partial Social Security numbers and party affiliation. This overreach on the part of the current administration is an attempt to divert attention from the very real issue of Russian tampering in the U.S. election.

Kris Kobach, the official requesting this data on behalf of the Trump administration, has frequently described himself as “the A.C.L.U.’s worst nightmare” and has described immigration as leading to the “ethnic cleansing” of white people. As a champion of Republican voter suppression efforts, he led the charge for the SAFE Act, which was used to disenfranchise voters of color in Kansas.

“President Trump’s request is nothing more than a distraction from the real issues our democratic system is facing in 2017, from widespread voter suppression to foreign tampering in our presidential election,” said Democratic Party of Virginia Chairwoman Susan Swecker. “Governor McAuliffe’s statement demonstrates Virginia’s role as a key player in the opposition to Donald Trump, the Republican Party, and their regressive policies that hurt working people. Under Democratic leadership, the Commonwealth will remain on the front line against President Trump as we fight to protect the fundamental right to vote.”

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