Concerns over autocracy in the U.S. continue to grow

"As the United States heads toward the midterm elections, there are growing concerns among some political scientists that the country has moved even further along the path to some form of autocracy. Staffan I. Lindberg, the director of Sweden's V-Dem Institute, which monitors democracy across the globe, says the U.S. has already crossed the threshold and become an "electoral autocracy.""

""I would argue that the United States in 2025-26 has slid into a mild form of competitive authoritarianism," Levitsky said. "I think it's reversible, but this is authoritarianism." Under competitive authoritarianism, countries still hold elections, but the ruling party uses various tactics attacking the press, disenfranchising voters, weaponizing the justice system and threatening critics to tilt the electoral playing field in its favor."

Some political scientists contend the United States has advanced toward autocracy as it approaches midterm elections. Staffan I. Lindberg labels the U.S. an "electoral autocracy." Steven Levitsky describes a slide into a mild form of competitive authoritarianism that could be reversible. Competitive authoritarianism features continued elections alongside ruling-party tactics such as attacking the press, disenfranchising voters, weaponizing the justice system, and threatening critics to skew electoral outcomes. Levitsky cites recent incidents: a Trump administration threat to Disney after Jimmy Kimmel's comments and President Trump likening domestic opponents to invaders. A smaller number of scholars argue executive expansion addresses prior excesses.

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