Foreign governments are actively targeting House and Senate races in the United States this election year, intelligence officials warned on Monday. Russia and China are leading influence operations to help or hinder specific candidates in congressional races where they believe they have a national security interest at stake. Cuba is also likely attempting to boost candidates that align with their interests in America. This warning comes amidst a tight battle for control of the House and Senate, highlighting the threat of online disinformation in state and local contests.
Russia and China understand the American political system well enough to exploit this year’s close elections as an opportunity to spread disinformation, according to intelligence officials. In addition to congressional races, foreign adversaries have targeted statewide offices and state legislative campaigns. Russia aims to erode support for candidates who support aiding Ukraine in its conflict with Russia, while China focuses on candidates based on their stance on issues important to Beijing, such as support for Taiwan. Cuba has historically supported candidates that favor improved relations with the island.
Influence operations can include false claims, propaganda, and social media content designed to mislead voters about candidates, issues, or election procedures. National security officials have identified cyberattacks on election systems and disinformation campaigns as key threats to the 2024 election. Despite denials from Russia, China, Iran, and Cuba, there is evidence that these countries are engaging in disinformation efforts to influence the outcome of the U.S. election. Foreign adversaries create networks of fake websites and social media accounts to amplify divisive claims about controversial topics.
State and local authorities have made significant efforts to secure the election process, with the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency stating that foreign adversaries cannot alter overall election results. However, the threat of disinformation remains challenging to quantify. While intelligence officials have delivered defensive briefings to targeted candidates or organizations, the frequency of defensive briefings has increased significantly compared to previous election cycles. In the presidential race, intelligence officials have determined that Russia supports President Trump, while China takes a neutral stance. Iran opposes Trump’s reelection due to tensions between Washington and Tehran.
In terms of cybersecurity, no indications of Iranian disinformation targeting down-ballot races have been observed for the 2024 election. Though foreign governments have denied interference in U.S. elections, the use of disinformation to influence election outcomes continues to be a growing concern. Foreign adversaries have been accused of engaging in influence operations through fake websites and social media accounts, as well as targeting specific candidates with false information. The close elections in 2024 provide fertile ground for the spread of disinformation, posing a significant threat to the integrity of the electoral process.
