As if we need any more evidence that our political system is broken in the United States, we need look no further than a recent Reuters report revealing that some political candidates won’t commit to accepting the results of the November election if they lose.
We should all be alarmed that any candidate for public office believes accepting the will of voters is somehow a negotiable proposition rather than a fundamental obligation of seeking public office.
But thanks to Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election, culminating in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, here we are.
The Reuters report found that only 14 of the 26 competitive Senate races surveyed gave unconditional assurances that they would accept election results. That includes nine Democrats, four Republicans and one independent.
Some Republican candidates refused to answer the question. Others qualified their answers, making acceptance contingent on their own assessment of the election.
The problem isn’t a recount, a legal challenge or an investigation of credible irregularities. Those are legitimate safeguards of our electoral system.
The danger begins when candidates declare elections fraudulent without evidence, pressure officials to disregard lawful results or insist that only elections they win can possibly be legitimate.
Jan. 6 showed us exactly where that kind of thinking can lead.
While we can legitimately point to Trump’s behavior following his 2020 loss, the larger issue is the willingness of other elected officials to tolerate, excuse or even enable such behavior. Democracy cannot survive on the integrity of a few officials while others stand by and watch its foundations erode.
A losing candidate cannot legally nullify an election simply by refusing to concede. Election certification, recounts and judicial review are governed by law. A concession speech is a tradition, not a legal requirement.
Still, there is a real threat when campaigns and political parties undermine public confidence in our elections. State legislatures across the country have continued to enact voting restrictions that can make it harder for eligible citizens to register and cast their ballots. According to the Brennan Center for Justice, 22 states have enacted 47 restrictive voting laws since the 2024 election. While other states have expanded voting access, these additional barriers deserve scrutiny, particularly when eligible voters risk being excluded from the process.
The Reuters report did find that more than 75 percent of registered voters are confident their ballots would be counted accurately. That is an important counterweight to claims that public confidence in our elections has collapsed. It also raises an obvious question: If voters have confidence in the process, why are some candidates so reluctant to commit to honoring the results?
Voters and the media must confront this issue before the Nov. 3 election. Every candidate should be pressed for an unequivocal answer before Election Day. Waiting until Nov. 4 to discover which candidates respect the will of voters is too late to make that issue part of their electoral accountability.
County and state election officials must follow the law, certify legitimate results and resist political pressure from any campaign, regardless of party.
Governors, attorneys general, courts and Congress must recognize and fulfill their constitutional and statutory responsibilities when it comes to elections. Political loyalty cannot take precedence over the law.
Candidates are entitled to seek office. They are entitled to challenge legitimate irregularities. They are not entitled to remain in power simply because they refuse to accept defeat.
In America, the voters decide who governs. Not Donald Trump. Not political parties. Not candidates who believe losing is an outcome they can simply refuse to recognize.
And when politicians forget that fundamental principle of American democracy, it is up to us to remind them and hold them accountable.
