Oregon Condemns DOJ Threats Against Minnesota Over Demands for Sensitive Voter Data | Daily Tidings

Ashland Daily Tidings (Ashland, OR — Wayback)

2026-01-30

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Oregon Condemns DOJ Threats Against Minnesota Over Demands for Sensitive Voter Data News By Diane Megaw On Jan 30, 2026 Robert F. Kennedy Department of Justice Building | Credit: Wally Gobetz Oregon has condemned the federal Department of Justice’s (DOJ) threats against Minnesota in its push to gain access to the state’s unredacted voter rolls, as Oregon’s Attorney General, Dan Rayfield, joined 21 other attorneys general in denouncing the DOJ’s latest attempt to coerce the State of Minnesota yesterday.   Oregon Denounces DOJ Threats In Minnesota In a letter to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi and Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, the 22-state coalition condemned the Trump administration’s exploitation of the situation in Minnesota to pressure state leaders. The federal government wants states to turn over sensitive resident data and dismantle longstanding public safety policies. Here is how voter file access and pricing differs across the states referenced: State Access category Listed price Oregon Open $500 Minnesota Restricted $51 Georgia Open $250   AG Rayfield said, “This goes to show that the Trump administration will do whatever it can to get its hands on sensitive voter information. No state – whether it’s Oregon or Minnesota – should be strong-armed into handing over private data.” The letter was sent a day after the FBI searched the elections office in Fulton County, Georgia- a central focus for President Trump’s baseless claims that the 2020 election was stolen from him. The letter responds to Bondi’s January 24 letter to Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, accusing the state of enabling widespread fraud and demanding a series of actions in exchange for the withdrawal of federal agents from Minnesota. The coalition warned that the federal government’s threats likely conflict with ongoing litigation and court-ordered protections. Rayfield noted that just last week, the judge in Oregon’s case was so alarmed by Bondi’s letter that he immediately convened a hearing to demand that the Administration explain its motives. The judge threw out the DOJ lawsuit. Tidings Data Snapshot Coalition pushback / key facts 22 State attorneys general in the coalition letter Jan 24 2026 Date of Bondi letter cited in the dispute 3 Sensitive identifiers targeted: date of birth / partial SSN / driver license number Source: Oregon DOJ coalition letter release and Oregon Secretary of State case summary Dailytidings.com The coalition warns that Bondi’s letter threatens the constitutional balance of power between the states and the federal government, and the demands intrude on state sovereignty. They argue that, with so many of the DOJ’s actions already blocked by courts across the country, the Administration is now attempting to force an outcome that it could not achieve through the courts.   Democratic States Push Back against Trump’s “Unconstitutional Overreach” Threats and data requests similar to Bondi’s threat against Minnesota have been sent to 14 Democratic-led states since January 2026. The Trump administration’s increasingly aggressive demands on Minnesota fit a pattern of federal pressure focused specifically on blue states. Multistate coalitions are now pushing back against what they call unconstitutional overreach. OPB reported that demands were sent to mostly Democratic-controlled states and the District of Columbia, ordering their government agencies to compile data on federal funds. This followed Trump saying he intended to cut off federal funding to states with sanctuary cities starting February 1. The 22-state coalition, which includes Oregon, confirmed that the states will continue to stand firm against unlawful federal interference and defend both state sovereignty and the rights of their residents. It urged the Trump Administration to end its dangerous and unlawful campaign against Minnesota immediately and stand down on its alarming demands. Share Twitter Facebook ReddIt WhatsApp Pinterest Email