Democrats have been focusing on the events of Jan. 6, 2021, during the 2024 campaign, but concerns are already arising about Jan. 6, 2025, on Capitol Hill. There is hope that Kamala Harris will win in November and that the House will be flipped, potentially leading to Hakeem Jeffries holding the speaker’s gavel during the certification of a Harris victory. However, there is worry among top House Democrats that Speaker Mike Johnson could retain his majority as Harris wins, possibly obstructing the counting of electoral votes and causing the election to be decided by the House under the constitutional provisions of the 12th Amendment.
Johnson has a history of challenging election results, including filing an amicus brief after the 2020 election to overturn swing-state results. His efforts to suggest that undocumented immigrants are voting in large numbers have raised concerns among Democrats about potential election interference.
Despite reassurances from Johnson’s aides and other Republicans that he may not follow Trump’s wishes easily, Democrats remain anxious about the uncertainty surrounding the certification process and Johnson’s role as speaker.
There are fears that Johnson could try to rewrite the rules governing the vote-counting session, muster enough Republicans to object to contested slates of electors, delay the vote-counting session, or challenge the Electoral Count Act entirely. These scenarios have Democrats on edge, with concerns about Johnson’s legal expertise and ability to manipulate the process.
While the likelihood of these worst-case scenarios is low, Democrats are preparing for any eventuality and urging donors to support efforts to flip the House. They are hopeful that Johnson will act in accordance with the law and ensure a peaceful transfer of power in a contested scenario.
Overall, the situation remains uncertain, but Democrats are taking proactive steps to address potential challenges in the post-election period.
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