Senator Alex Padilla appeared Thursday on MS NOW and addressed Lawrence O’Donnell regarding a Boston judge who halted a Trump Postal Service directive. Padilla termed the outcome a success, citing the Constitution’s assignment of election running to the states and of voting-method rules to Congress rather than the executive. He said the president cannot assume election control or abolish mail voting, and he faulted the Supreme Court for not saying so last week.

Padilla, once California’s secretary of state, noted 68 days remain until Election Day and that next Friday is the federal deadline for mailing ballots to service members and overseas citizens. Printing of ballots and envelopes is finished, he said, and administrators will carry out the elections.