Some House Democrats May Refuse to Certify a Trump Win

There is a discussion among some Democrats in Congress about potentially voting against certifying the results of this year’s presidential election if former President Donald Trump, the leading Republican candidate, wins.

This topic has arisen as the U.S. Supreme Court is deliberating on whether Colorado can exclude Trump from its Republican presidential primary ballot due to Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, which disqualifies individuals who have engaged in insurrection against the Constitution after taking an oath to support it.

Despite never being charged with such a crime, Colorado’s Supreme Court determined in December that Trump participated in an insurrection on Jan. 6, 2021.

While many House Republicans and GOP senators were criticized for objecting to certifying the 2020 election results, several senior Democrats have indicated to The Atlantic that they would not certify a Trump victory in November if the Supreme Court does not provide a clear ruling on his eligibility.

Representative Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif., believes Trump is “clearly ineligible” but acknowledges that challenging his victory is a complex process without a clear procedure. She mentioned that she might be one of the legislators seeking to disqualify him.

Democrats face a tougher challenge in successfully challenging a Trump victory under the new rules that require one-fifth of each chamber to force a vote on a state’s slate of electors.

Should the Supreme Court deem Trump eligible, Representative Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., stated that he would vote for certification to follow the law and avoid objecting as a form of protest.

Representative Jamie Raskin, D-Md., highlighted the potential influence of violence but asserted that it would not deter Democrats from attempting to disqualify Trump if he wins.