Democrats Signal They Won’t Accept Election Results If Trump Wins
Democrats are raising concerns about the legitimacy of the 2024 election should President Donald Trump win. Key Democratic figures have expressed reservations about certifying the results if Trump emerges victorious, casting doubt on the fairness of the election process.
Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD), who is the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, has a history of challenging Trump’s 2016 win. In a recent interview with Axios, Raskin stated that Democrats would certify the election, but only if it is deemed “free, fair and honest.” When asked specifically about Trump winning, he admitted that he would “definitely” have doubts about the election’s fairness.
Similarly, Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA), ranking Democrat on the House Rules Committee, added to these concerns. He indicated that certifying Trump’s potential win would depend on how the election plays out. “We have to see how it all happens,” McGovern said, hinting at uncertainty about accepting the results.
Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), another prominent Democrat, also shared her concerns. Schakowsky, who previously challenged the results of George W. Bush’s 2004 reelection, expressed worries about the “shenanigans [Trump] is planning,” suggesting that Democrats need to ensure all rules are followed before committing to certifying the outcome.
This refusal to unequivocally commit to certifying election results if Trump wins has fueled concerns that Democrats are preparing to challenge the outcome. Critics argue this approach could undermine confidence in the election process and embolden radical left-wing groups to protest violently, as they have in the past. Some see this rhetoric as laying the groundwork for delegitimizing a Trump victory, with historical comparisons to Hillary Clinton’s refusal to accept the 2016 election results and Stacey Abrams’ claims of winning the 2018 Georgia gubernatorial race despite losing.
Democrats’ hesitation to confirm they will accept the election results, regardless of the outcome, is raising alarms about the potential for future unrest.
