“Any efforts to throw out ballots or refuse a peaceful transfer of power are nothing less than an assault on American democracy.”
On Wednesday, a group of twelve Democratic governors issued a joint statement vowing to protect the integrity of the 2020 general election and assuring Americans that every ballot in their states will be counted. The governors also stated if Donald Trump loses the election, “he must leave office — period.”
President Trump has so far refused to commit to a peaceful transfer of power after the election, and has falsely claimed countless times that vote-by-mail is not secure, even though his own campaign manager said mail-in voting has been proven to work. Trump is also attempting to impede the Post Office’s ability to process ballots, creating even more chaos and confusion.
In response to the president’s unacceptable behavior and threats to our democracy, the coalition of governors promised to protect their states. They affirmed that all ballots will be counted and electors will be appointed in accordance with the vote. In their words, “democracy will be delivered in this election.“
The statement was signed by: Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Delaware Gov. John Carney, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, Oregon Gov. Kate Brown, Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam, and Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers.
Read more about the Democratic governors’ commitment to counting every vote below and visit EveryStateEveryVote.com to learn more about how Democratic governors are expanding access to the ballot box.
Associated Press: 12 Democratic governors vow that all votes will be counted
Twelve Democratic governors issued a joint statement on Wednesday defending American democracy, vowing that every valid ballot will be counted in the election after President Donald Trump sowed distrust during the first presidential debate.
Trump claimed without evidence Tuesday night that mail voting — surging in popularity during the coronavirus pandemic — is ripe for fraud, and he refused to say whether he would accept the results. He also called on his backers to scrutinize voting procedures at the polls, which critics said could cross into voter intimidation.
Without mentioning Trump by name, the governors noted his refusal last week to commit to a peaceful transition of power.
“Any efforts to throw out ballots or refuse a peaceful transfer of power are nothing less than an assault on democracy,” they wrote. “There is absolutely no excuse for promoting the intimidation or harassment of voters. These are all blatant attempts to deny our constituents the right to have their voices heard, as guaranteed in the U.S. Constitution, and to know the will of the people will be carried out.”
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The Seattle Times: Amid Trump statements and news reports, Inslee, other Democratic governors condemn efforts to challenge Nov. 3 election
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee joined 11 other Democratic governors in a statement Wednesday condemning any efforts to throw out election ballots or otherwise prevent a peaceful transfer of power should President Donald Trump lose the election.
The statement comes after Trump in the past week declined to commit to a peaceful transfer of power if Democrat and former Vice President Joe Biden prevails in the Nov. 3 contest.
At the same time, a report in The Atlantic magazine spelled out ways the president and his allies could sow chaos after the Nov. 3 election to potentially subvert the results ahead of Inauguration Day.
In Wednesday’s statement, Inslee and the other governors — all Democrats — called any efforts to disregard ballots or refuse to transfer power as “nothing less than an assault on American democracy.”
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The Detroit News: Whitmer, Democratic governors: If Trump loses election, ‘he must leave office’
Eleven Democratic governors, including Michigan’s Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, issued a joint statement Wednesday vowing that “democracy will be delivered” in the Nov. 3 election.
The six-paragraph statement came a day after the first presidential debate in Cleveland, where President Donald Trump, a Republican, warned of “fraud like you’ve never seen” and urged his supporters to go to the polls to watch “very carefully.”
“Our nation has held presidential elections and upheld the results throughout our history, even in times of great peril,” the Democratic governors’ statement said. “We did it during the Civil War and both World Wars, and we can do it during a pandemic.
“And if the outcome of this election means the end of a presidency, he must leave office — period.”
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WAND: Threats to democratic process addressed by Pritzker, other governors in statement
Twelve governors, including Gov. JB Pritzker, had strong words for threats to the democratic process in a statement released Wednesday night.
The statement called potential efforts to throw out ballots or refuse the peaceful transfer of power after a presidential election “an assault on American democracy.” The governors said there is “absolutely no excuse” for promoting intimidation or harassment of voters.
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Staunton News Leader: Gov. Northam among 12 governors vowing to count votes, protect democracy
A coalition of 12 governors, including Gov. Ralph Northam, issued a joint statement Wednesday defending American democracy and the election process.
The governors vowed to protect the people of their states and affirmed that all votes will be counted accurately.
“That means all valid ballots cast in accordance with state and local laws must be counted, and that all states must properly appoint electors in accordance with the vote,” the statement said. “We will not allow anyone to willfully corrupt the democratic process by delegitimizing.”
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Willamette Week: Gov. Kate Brown Joins Coalition of Governors Demanding President Trump Commit to Peaceful Transfer of Power
On Sept. 30, Oregon Gov. Kate Brown joined a coalition of 10 other governors condemning threats to American democracy following Tuesday’s first presidential debate, in which President Trump refused to condemn white supremacy, made false allegations about mail-in ballot fraud, and refused to commit to accepting the result of the November election.
“We do not take for granted the sacred right of every American to cast a vote, and to have that vote counted, in the presidential election held every four years,” the governors wrote. “It is a right that is foundational to our democracy and essential to the continuation of our constitutional system of government—something to be cherished, revered and defended by elected leaders at all levels.”
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KVAL: Brown, 10 other governors: ‘All votes cast in the upcoming election will be counted’
Oregon Gov. Kate Brown and the governors of California, Washington and 9 other states issued a statement Wednesday “on recent threats of efforts to circumvent the election results.”
“Any efforts to throw out ballots or refuse a peaceful transfer of power are nothing less than an assault on American democracy,” they wrote. “As governors, it is our solemn duty to protect the people of our states. Today, we affirm that all votes cast in the upcoming election will be counted and that democracy will be delivered in this election.”
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Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak has joined a coalition of 10 other U.S. governors in a joint statement that calls attention to what they are calling “recent threats to the democratic process.”
The governors released the statement Wednesday, reassuring voters in their respective states that their voices and their ballots will be counted, despite President Trump’s recent lack of confidence in the U.S.’ democratic process.
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KTNV: Gov. Sisolak joins 10 other governors in releasing statement about threat to election process
A coalition of 11 governors, including Govs. Jay Inslee (WA), Kate Brown (OR), Gavin Newsom (CA), Phil Murphy (NJ), Gretchen Whitmer (MI), Tony Evers (WI), Tim Walz (MN), Ralph Northam (VA), John Carney (DE), Steve Sisolak (NV) and Michelle Lujan Grisham (NM), released a joint statement today on recent threats to the democratic process and reports of efforts to circumvent the election results.
“We do not take for granted the sacred right of every American to cast a vote, and to have that vote counted, in the presidential election held every four years. It is a right that is foundational to our democracy and essential to the continuation of our constitutional system of government — something to be cherished, revered and defended by elected leaders at all levels.
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KSNV: 11 state governors release statement regarding threats to election
Governor Steve Sisolak and 10 other state governors released a joint letter Wednesday stating their commitment to ensuring a proper election.
The statement addresses recent comments from President Donald Trump regarding the transition of power and voter intimidation.
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