Making a bipartisan commitment to respect this year’s election results
![Making a bipartisan commitment to respect this year’s election results](https://thehill.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/06/ballot_box8647356.jpg?w=900)
At the start of every Congress, members of the House of Representatives gather in the House chamber and, in unison, are sworn in for two-year terms. We all swear that we will “support and defend the Constitution of the United States.”
It is a rare moment of unity in a body that often breaks down along party lines. But the reason we can engage in those fiery debates about how to govern is that we have all agreed at the outset to operate by the same set of rules in service to the Constitution and the American people.
Our worry is that after this year’s election, not every official coming to Washington for the 119th Congress will, in fact, take that oath seriously — that some people seeking office will put their allegiance to the Constitution second to partisan loyalty or some other radical agenda. That should concern every American who believes in the rule of law and preserving our democracy.
And it’s why the four of us — two Democrats and two Republicans — have made a public promise to live up to our oath to defend the Constitution, and support four core principles of our democracy: Protect the right to vote for eligible American citizens; denounce any attempt to intimidate, harass, threaten or incite violence around elections; restore trust and faith in our democracy by rejecting lies and misinformation about elections; and accept the ultimate outcome of the election, certify the result and support the peaceful transfer of power.
This is the “democracyFIRST Promise,” named for the cross-partisan pro-democracy organization that launched this effort last year and is now expanding ahead of the November election.
These aren’t extreme ideas. They should be the absolute minimum expected of anyone seeking a position of public trust in the U.S. Yet we’re at a moment in American politics where it’s necessary for us to say plainly that words and actions that run counter to our democratic principles are out of bounds, and that candidates for office who refuse to uphold the rule of law have disqualified themselves for office.
We are fully aware that an election year isn’t typically the time for the bipartisan linking of arms, and that our cross-party commitment is likely to ruffle some feathers with our colleagues in our respective parties. But if we can’t come back to Washington next year in agreement on the fundamental ideas that must guide our service to the country, we’ll be in real danger of no longer having a country to serve. So we call on our colleagues of both parties to join us in making the democracyFIRST Promise.
In the months ahead, we hope to see this cross-partisan coalition grow in order to help preserve our democracy, the republic and rule of law. Regardless of party, it’s essential that anti-democracy candidates and elected officials attempting to subvert free and fair elections and threaten the future of our democratic republic are identified, isolated and defeated in November.
Although we can never fully predict the outcomes of our elections, we are hopeful and look forward to returning to serve in the House next year. Together, we plan to continue leading meaningful policy debates, seeking areas of bipartisan consensus and developing commonsense solutions to deliver real results for our communities and country. But to achieve this, the oath we take must hold genuine significance. We must ensure every individual swearing this oath is as committed to it as we are. So, we invite our colleagues in the House, from both parties, to join us in this endeavor and make the democracyFIRST Promise. Together, we can make a difference.
Brian Fitzpatrick represents the 1st District of Pennsylvania, Jared Golden represents the 2nd District of Maine, Don Bacon represents the 2nd District of Nebraska and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez represents the 3rd District of Washington.
Date: |
Filter
-
Inc. - Business
Reid Hoffman, Other Business Leaders Call on Candidates to Respect the Election Outcome
A coalition of business owners shared a pledge with both candidates ahead of Thursday's debate. -
CBS Sports - Sports
Kansas State football recruiting: Five-star Linkon Cure commits as Wildcats land highest-ranked prospect ever
History has been made at Kansas State with Cure's commitment -
Yahoo Sports - Sports
Investors in BAVARIA Industries Group (ETR:B8A) have seen respectable returns of 66% over the past five years
When we invest, we're generally looking for stocks that outperform the market average. Buying under-rated businesses is... -
BBC News - Top stories
Trump evades debate questions on accepting election results
Throughout the debate, Trump also repeated falsehoods on voter fraud, abortion and the 6 January riot.Donald Trump -
Financial Times - World
Could the election results still surprise us?
Plus, where have all the ‘good chaps’ of British politics gone? -
Yahoo News - World
Mauritanian president comfortably wins re-election
-
Yahoo News - World
French election results boost stocks and the euro
France -
BBC News - Top stories
Swinney fears postal vote problems could affect election results
The first minister says he is "very concerned" tight contests could hinge on "disenfranchised" voters. -
The Wall Street Journal - World
French Election Risk Could Cap Euro Gains
The euro could rise further against the dollar if U.S. data are weaker, although the July 7 second round of French elections is likely to limit gains, ING said.France
More from The Hill
-
The Hill - Politics
Carville says Biden should be replaced
Longtime Democratic strategist James Carville said Monday that President Biden should be replaced at the top of the 2024 ticket following his poor debate performance against former President Trump. CNN host Jake Tapper asked Carville what the ...Joe Biden -
The Hill - Politics
70 percent of voters have decided who they will back in November: Poll
More than 7 in 10 voters have already decided whom they will vote for in the November presidential election, according to a new poll. The Harvard CAPS/Harris poll released Monday showed 72 percent of respondents said they have already made up ... -
The Hill - Politics
Republicans tout Supreme Court immunity ruling as victory in 'weaponization' fight
Republicans are hailing the Supreme Court’s ruling that presidents have immunity from prosecution for official acts as a major victory over government “weaponization” as the decision deals a blow to special counsel Jack Smith’s prosecution of ...Republican Party -
The Hill - Politics
Hillary Clinton sides with Sotomayor over 'MAGA wing of the Supreme Court'
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Monday the “MAGA wing of the Supreme Court" issued the majority decision granting presidential immunity for official acts in office, as she backed Justice Sonia Sotomayor’s scathing dissent in the ... -
The Hill - Politics
Luna proposes fining Garland $10K per day instead of taking him into custody
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) is proposing a less dramatic way to hold Attorney General Merrick Garland in “inherent contempt” of Congress over his refusal to turn over the audio from President Biden’s interview with special counsel Robert Hur ...