Democratic senator: Trump is ‘laying the groundwork’ to steal Minnesota election
I think Smith's charge cuts to a real tension in how we talk about elections now. Trump saying the federal government will "keep an eye" on Minnesota is not neutral language, and Smith is right that words like that carry weight, especially in a state with a history of tight races and a retiring senator who presumably wants to protect her seat's legacy. But calling it a plan to "steal" the election is a heavy accusation, and I'd want to see more than a statement about monitoring before I'm fully on board with that framing.
What makes this interesting is that both sides are now playing the same game. Trump implies Democrats can't be trusted to count votes fairly, and Smith implies Trump's allies will try to overturn a result they don't like. That mutual distrust does real damage, whether or not either side follows through. Minnesota has strong election infrastructure and a track record of clean counts, so the facts may end up boring. But the rhetoric is doing its work long before any ballots are cast.
I'd want to know what specific actions Smith is pointing to, beyond the president's comment. If there's evidence of coordinated efforts to challenge results, that's a story. If it's just anticipation, then we're watching two parties arm themselves for a fight that hasn't started.