A broad coalition of advocacy groups called on every member of Congress to commit to certifying the results of the presidential election on Jan. 6, 2025, warning lawmakers in a letter sent Monday that “our most fundamental rights and freedoms will be jeopardized once again” if they don’t accept the outcome.
The letter, first obtained by The Washington Post, comes days after House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) hedged when asked if he would commit to certifying the results if former president Donald Trump loses to Vice PresidentKamala Harris. Johnson answered that he would do so “if we have a free, fair and safe election.”
The House GOP leader’s response echoes Trump’s position that he would accept the outcome only if he considers it fair to him. Trump and his allies continue to falsely insist that the 2020 presidential election was stolen and have been laying the legal and rhetorical groundwork to undermine the results of this year’s contest if he loses. At a campaign rally Friday night, Trump said that the “only way we’re going to lose, because they cheat.”
The letter to lawmakers serves as a reminder that in less than 100 days, Congress will gather to once again certify the presidential election. The largely ceremonial task turned chaotic and deadly when a mob of pro-Trump rioters, trying to stop the certification of Joe Biden’s victory, stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.
More than two dozen groups signed the letter, including voting rights organizations, pro-democracy nonprofits, labor unions and issue advocacy groups. Signatories included Common Cause, Public Citizen, the National Education Association and the League of Conservation Voters.