When we talk about threats to democracy this election year, former President Donald Trump gets most of the attention. And for good reason: He’s declared himself above the law and promises to abuse power if he wins a second term. But the most misunderstood threat comes from Congress. Inside the very building where our democracy came under attack three years ago, scores of election deniers still hold power.
Inside the very building where our democracy came under attack three years ago, scores of election deniers still hold power.
According to new research from States United, the nonpartisan organization we founded to help state and local officials protect elections. Roughly a third of the current House and Senate — 171 members in all — are election deniers. Take Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y. In a Sunday interview on NBC News’ “Meet the Press,” not only did she not commit to certifying the 2024 election results, but she also said, “I have concerns about the treatment of Jan. 6 hostages.”
Again, Stefanik isn’t alone. Election deniers represent 36 states, red and blue alike. And most will be on the ballot again this November. It’s worth thinking about how much havoc they could cause if they are returned to power.
Start with Jan. 6, 2025. On that day, the newly elected Congress will tally the Electoral College votes and declare a winner in the 2024 presidential election. If voters reject Trump in favor of President Biden, then it’s easy to imagine election deniers trying to derail the count. We’ve seen that film before.
Yes, after the U.S. Capitol attack, Congress made it harder to sabotage a presidential election. A new law raises the threshold for objecting to any state’s electoral votes to one-fifth of the members of both the House and Senate. Previously, it took only one member from each chamber. But even under the new rules, election deniers in Congress could make mischief. Already, 152 of them sit in the House, more than enough to clear the…
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