Doesn’t it seem like 35 years have passed since President Trump tweeted about delaying the election? (It was last Thursday.) As a reminder: He suggested that due to the pandemic, voting in person may be unsafe, even though no one has to go to the polls to cast a ballot—mail-in and absentee voting is also an option.
The thing is, only Congress has the power to move the date of a federal election. That’s per…the Constitution. So we decided to ask all 535 members who make up the House of Representatives and the Senate: Would you be in favor of moving the election? Here’s who we heard from and what they said.
ALABAMA
Representative Terri Sewell (D), via rep: “She is absolutely against moving the election.”
ALASKA
Senator Lisa Murkowski (R): “There is absolutely no reason to delay this election, and it is not going to happen. It’s incumbent on us to ensure safe and secure elections, and that’s exactly what the Congress has been doing. Congress, not the president, has the power under the Constitution to set the date of elections, and we have done so by statute. Americans have voted in federal elections during the Civil War, the 1918 pandemic, and other calamities.”
ARIZONA
Senator Martha McSally (R), via rep: “Senator McSally strongly believes the election should and will occur on time just like every election in our nation’s history.”
Representative Tom O’Halleran (D), via rep: “Congressman O’Halleran believes this year’s election should take place on time.”
Representative Raul Grijalva (D): “We will remain vigilant and fight Donald Trump’s false narrative on voter fraud. We will observe Election Day on November 3, and the people will have the opportunity to have their voice heard—whether Trump likes the results or not.”
ARKANSAS
Representative French Hill (R), via rep: “Congressman French Hill does not support moving the election.”
Representative Bruce Westerman (R), via rep: “Rep. Westerman does not support delaying the election.”
CALIFORNIA
Senator Dianne Feinstein (D): “President Trump today once again attacked the integrity of our election system, this time even suggesting the election should be delayed. Tactics like undermining electoral processes and trying to push back elections are common, but never in the United States. Mail-in voting is safe and secure. My home state of California and others have long histories of mail-in voting, and widespread fraud has never been a problem. Rather than sending inflammatory tweets in an attempt to deflect attention from news reports that 150,000 Americans have now died from the coronavirus and the economy has suffered its worst-ever quarterly losses, the president should instead get behind efforts to expand remote voting. The Constitution gives Congress, not the president, the authority to set election dates. The election will happen in three months. States need to take steps now to ensure everything runs smoothly on November 3.”
Representative John Garamendi (D), via rep: “Let me be clear: President Trump does not have the authority to change the date of our elections. Only Congress has this authority and under no circumstances will we allow our elections, the foundation of our democracy, to be postponed or rescheduled. President Trump has spread falsehoods and misinformation about voting by mail and we will not stand for it. Voting by mail is the safest and most reliable method to vote as we face the coronavirus pandemic. As the late John Lewis stated: ‘Voting and participating in the democratic process are key. The vote is the most powerful nonviolent change agent you have in a democratic society.’ Americans will stand united to vote this November.”
Representative Mike Thompson (D): “Unequivocally, no, the election should not be delayed. A reminder to all that only an act of Congress can change the date of the election and I would absolutely vote against any kind of change. This will not happen.”
Representative Jerry McNerney (D), via rep: “No, Congressman McNerney is not in favor of delaying the election. Like many of the the president’s statements, he finds this suggestion to be absurd.”
Representative Josh Harder (D), via rep: “Josh is absolutely opposed to moving the election.”
Representative Mark DeSaulnier (D): “No.”
Representative Jackie Speier (D), via rep: “No.”
Representative Eric Swalwell (D), via rep: “Congressman Swalwell is not in favor of postponing the election. The Constitution clearly states that Congress has the power to determine the time and date of the election, not the president.”
Representative Anna Eshoo (D): “The U.S. Constitution is crystal clear when it comes to our federal elections: Congress alone has the power to decide when elections are held, not the president. Election Day is fixed by law, and the president cannot delay it or extend his own term. The Constitution requires him to leave office on January 20 unless he is elected to a second term. The president’s attacks on voting by mail are false and irresponsible. Voting by mail is the safest way to vote during a pandemic and there isn’t a shred of evidence that it leads to voter fraud. The true threat to our election security is foreign interference. The Intelligence Community confirmed that Russia interfered in the 2016 election, and they are doing so again this year. The president’s irresponsible comments play right into the hands of our adversaries who seek to undermine the legitimacy of our elections and shake our confidence in democracy.”
Representative Jimmy Panetta (D): “No.”
Representative Judy Chu (D): “No, the president cannot change the election date. The Constitution clearly gives this power to Congress alone. This is an illegal fantasy from a president trying to claim powers that do not exist to subvert an election in order to distract from 150,000 Americans who have lost their lives and a 33 percent drop in GDP, as millions of unemployed Americans are about to lose critical benefits because he was unwilling to extend Unemployment Insurance.”
Representative Brad Sherman (D): “No.”
Representative Pete Aguilar (D): “No.”
Representative Grace Napolitano (D): “Absolutely opposed.”
“This is an illegal fantasy from a president trying to claim powers that do not exist.”
Representative Ted Lieu (D), via rep: “Rep. Lieu does not support delaying the election.”
Representative Linda Sánchez (D), via rep: “President Trump can tweet whatever he wants, but that power is granted to Congress. Rep. Sánchez is not moving the election.”
Representative Lucille Roybal-Allard (D): “Donald Trump doesn’t have the power to delay the election. He’s a president, not a king, as any U.S. history book will tell him—and if he’s short on time, Hamilton makes the point in less than three hours. The election will be Tuesday, November 3, whether he likes it or not.”
Representative Mark Takano (D), via rep: “No, Rep. Mark Takano does not support delaying the November 3 election.”
Representative Alan Lowenthal (D): “Unlike President Trump, I understand that the U.S. Constitution gives the power to set the date of presidential elections to Congress. It will take a federal law, passed by Congress, to change the date. I oppose any suggestion of moving the November 3 election date.”
Representative Mike Levin (D), via Twitter as forwarded by rep: “Only Congress can decide the election date. Any unilateral effort by Trump to delay the election would be unconstitutional. No matter what he says, election day will remain November 3.”
COLORADO
Senator Michael Bennet (D): “This is so dangerous. Americans and elected officials at every level—from every party—must reject this unprecedented threat to our democracy and stand up for the integrity of our elections. Colorado has voted by mail for years. We have the second-highest voter turnout in America.”
Representative Diana DeGette (D): “No.”
Representative Jason Crow (D): “No.”
Representative Ed Perlmutter (D): “No.”
CONNECTICUT
Senator Richard Blumenthal (D): “No king for America. Trump suggesting indefinite delay in the election—absolutely jaw-dropping arrogance. Unconscionable and unconstitutional. Delaying the election is totally unnecessary and illegal—enabling a dictator. Only Trump would have the gall to even think it.”
Representative Rosa DeLauro (D): “No.”
FLORIDA
Senator Rick Scott (R), via rep: “Senator Rick Scott does not support postponing the election.”
Senator Marco Rubio (R), previous statement forwarded by staff: “He can suggest whatever he wants. The law is what it is. We’re going to have an election that’s legitimate, it’s going to be credible, it’s going to be the same as we’ve always done it.…We’re going to have an election in November. And people should have confidence in it.”
Representative John Rutherford (R): “No.”
Representative Al Lawson (D), via rep: “Representative Lawson is not for delaying it.”
Representative Darren Soto (D): “NO.”
Representative Val Demings (D), via rep: “You can’t be serious? The answer is no.”
Representative Ted Deutch (D): “No.”
Representative Donna Shalala (D), via rep: “Rep. Shalala is not in favor of postponing the election.”
“Unlike President Trump, I understand that the U.S. Constitution gives the power to set the date of presidential elections to Congress.”
GEORGIA
Senator David Perdue (R): “The election is going to be November 3. The right to vote is fundamental, and every legally eligible voter should have the opportunity to freely cast their ballot as scheduled.”
IDAHO
Senator Mike Crapo (R): “The election will proceed as scheduled on Tuesday, November 3, 2020. I trust Idaho election officials to ensure proper safety protocols to ensure all eligible Idaho citizens have access to the ballot box this November.”
ILLINOIS
Senator Richard Durbin (D): “The president doesn’t have the power to delay an election and he knows it. Instead of trying to distract from his failures by delegitimizing upcoming election, President Trump should focus on building an effective response to a pandemic that has killed 150,000 Americans and devastated the economy.”
Representative Mike Quigley (D), via rep: “The Congressman would emphatically oppose any delay of the election.”
Representative Sean Casten (D): “We’ve held elections in the middle of the Civil War, World War II, and the Spanish flu pandemic. We will hold an election on November 3 and the president doesn’t have the power to change that. Vote by mail is proven to be a safe and secure method of casting ballots. If the president actually cared about our democratic institutions, he would be calling to expand vote by mail, not using the election as a justification for a lawless power grab.”
Representative Danny Davis (D): “I am not in favor of the proposal. If it comes to the House floor for a vote, I will vote no. This is just unprecedented. There is no such precedent in the history of the country, whether war, famine, or disease—even the Spanish flu. It has been tens or hundreds of times worse than the epidemic we are facing now, and we didn’t postpone the election, even for a day. There is just no call to do this. It’s possible to vote safely by mail. There is no reason—no honest reason—to postpone the election.”
Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi (D), via rep: “Congressman Krishnamoorthi does NOT favor delaying the election.”
Representative Jan Schakowsky (D): “The power to set the date of the election, and the power to change that, lies only with the Congress. I join with my colleagues, both Republican and Democrat, who have said today that there is no reason to delay the election. Through our nation’s most challenging times, including during the Civil War, two World Wars, the Great Depression, and in the wake of terrorist attacks, Americans have voted. This year will be no different. We will vote in November regardless of what the president says. It is our job as members of Congress to ensure that our citizens can safely and securely vote and vote from home if they so choose.”
Representative Bradley Schneider (D): “Donald Trump cannot delay the election. Congress set the national election date by law in 1845, and only Congress can change the date. We’ve held elections during the Civil War, two World Wars, the Great Depression, and even the Spanish flu pandemic.”
“I don’t want to suffer one more day of a Trump administration than the law requires. The election will be held on November 3.”
Representative Rodney Davis (R): “There will be no delay. Congress sets the election date, and it should not be changed. It will be held on November 3 as planned and required by law.”
Representative Cheri Bustos (D): “It’s no accident the president is suggesting we delay the election. It’s dangerous and undermines the sanctity of our democratic process. Protecting the right to vote is patriotic—not partisan. I’ll always stand for Americans’ right to safely cast their ballot.”
KENTUCKY
Senator Mitch McConnell (R), previous statement forwarded by staff: “Never in the history of the country, through wars, depressions, and the Civil War, have we ever not had a federally scheduled election on time. And we’ll find a way to do that again this November 3.…We will cope with whatever the situation is and have the election on November 3 as already scheduled.”
Senator Rand Paul (R): “The 1845 Presidential Election Day Act sets the date for federal elections and can only be changed by an act of Congress.”
Representative John Yarmuth (D): “I don’t want to suffer one more day of a Trump administration than the law requires. The election will be held on November 3.”
MAINE
Senator Susan Collins (R): “President Trump does not have the authority to delay the November election, and I do not believe that Congress should do so.”
Senator Angus King (I): “The Constitution clearly gives the authority to set election dates to Congress, not the president—because the founders feared a moment exactly like this one. For the good of the nation, all Americans, regardless of their politics, should concentrate on a safe, secure election on November 3, whether in person or by mail.”
MARYLAND
Senator Chris Van Hollen (D): “The president may be scared of an election, but our country is not. Today’s tweet was another desperate ploy to sow confusion and spread misinformation from a man who’s distraught over his poll numbers, which have continued to tank in response to his failed leadership on the COVID-19 pandemic. The president does not have the authority to move our elections, and they will take place as scheduled.”
Representative C. A. Dutch Ruppersberger (D): “Do as I say, not as I do, is the MO of this president, who has no authority to postpone an election. This reeks of desperation. Many states use mail-in ballots without any evidence of fraud. Voter fraud is a hoax!”
MASSACHUSETTS
Senator Elizabeth Warren (D): “The election will be held on November 3. Donald Trump has no authority to delay the election—but that doesn’t make what he’s doing any less dangerous. I’ve called on the heads of Justice, Defense, Homeland Security, and Interior to not allow their departments to be turned into Trump’s own personal militia, especially in the event Trump loses the election in November and refuses to leave office peacefully.”
Senator Ed Markey (D), via Twitter as forwarded by rep: “Donald Trump is lying. Voting by mail is safe and legitimate. We cannot and will not let this authoritarian criminal delay our election, undermine our democracy, and silence the American people.”
Representative James McGovern (D), via rep: “His answer is not just no, it’s hell no.”
Representative Lori Trahan (D): “Election Day is November 3. A tweet isn’t going to change that.”
Representative Ayanna Presley (D): “More dangerous, desperate bluster from the occupant of the White House. Election day cannot, shall not, and will not be changed. Full stop.”
MICHIGAN
Senator Gary Peters (D): “Free and fair elections are not only a cornerstone of our democracy but part of our Constitution. Federal law mandates when our elections are held and the president can’t change the election date—Election Day will be on November 3. As ranking member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, I’m working to ensure our election is safe, secure, and fair. Instead of sowing distrust and misinformation, the president must be a partner in the effort to confront the coronavirus pandemic. There’s a lot more we must do, and that starts with coming together and passing a bipartisan relief package to support Michigan families, workers, small businesses, hospitals, and cash-strapped state and local governments.”
Representative Debbie Dingell (D): “Fortunately, the president does not have the authority to do what he is proposing. I am at John Lewis’s funeral, where we are reminded of his words: ‘For the love of God, please vote!’”
Representative Rashida Tlaib (D), via rep: “Rep. Tlaib does not support delaying the election.”
Representative Brenda Lawrence (D): “The right to vote is a key tenet of our democracy. President Trump has continually taken actions to undermine our democracy, so it should come as no surprise that he is spreading false and misleading information about the safest way for Americans to vote during this public health crisis: vote by mail. In the midst of a global pandemic, states have rightfully enacted measures to expand vote by mail to ensure the protection of both their voters and poll workers. Over the past few months, as states were forced to close polling locations, mask-wearing Americans have waited hours in lines stretching city blocks to cast their votes. While their resilience is laudable, the simple fact remains that no American should be forced to choose between their health and participating in our democracy. Whether by tweet or during an interview, President Trump continues to falsely claim that the 2020 election will be rigged, going so far as to say he may not accept the election results if he loses. Instead of peddling baseless conspiracy theories, the administration should encourage all Americans to participate in the upcoming election via mail as we struggle to contain COVID-19. No matter how many times the president repeats his claims, they will not be true. Voting by mail is safe and secure, and any suggestion to the contrary is nothing more than another attempt to suppress the vote of the American people.”
MINNESOTA
Representative Angie Craig (D): “Absolutely not. There will be an election on November 3, and you can sign up for your vote by mail ballot here.”
Representative Pete Stauber (R), via rep: “The Congressman does not support delaying the election.”
MISSISSIPPI
Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R), via rep: “Senator Hyde-Smith has confidence in the ability of our state’s election officials to conduct a general election this fall that safeguards the integrity of Mississippians’ right to vote while protecting voters and election workers.”
Representative Bennie Thompson (D): “We don’t delay elections because the president is scared of losing.”
Representative Michael Guest (R), via rep: “Because Congressman Guest is confident that our state election officials are prepared to take the proper precautions to protect Americans at the ballot box in November, he does not think it is necessary to delay the election.”
MONTANA
Senator Jon Tester (D): “The president has no more power to delay an election than a farmer has the power to delay harvest season. Our focus should be on ensuring everyone has the ability to safely vote, not sowing division and doubt in our democracy. I’ll continue to work with my colleagues to provide the resources local officials need to uphold our proud American tradition of free and fair elections.”
“We don’t delay elections because the president is scared of losing.”
NEBRASKA
Senator Deb Fischer (R): “On November 3, the American people will exercise their right to vote. I do not support delaying the election.”
Representative Jeff Fortenberry (R): “Elections in Nebraska, either in person or by mail, are secure.”
NEVADA
Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D), via rep: “Senator Cortez Masto does not support delaying the election.”
Senator Jacky Rosen (D): “No. The Constitution is clear. We must have elections the first Tuesday after the 1st of November every four years.”
Representative Steven Horsford (D): “Unequivocally, no. There is no substantial reason to delay the November election. Vote by mail is a perfectly safe way for all Americans to vote, especially in the midst of this pandemic touching so many.”
NEW HAMPSHIRE
Senator Maggie Hassan (D): “Election Day will be November 3. The United States of America has never delayed a presidential election, including during the Civil War and World War II, and the president does not have the power to do so. I urge my Republican colleagues to speak out against the president’s dangerous suggestion and provide additional support to states to ensure that all voters can safely exercise their fundamental right to vote.”
Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D), via Twitter as forwarded by rep: “The president is not above the law or the Constitution. There’s going to be an election on November 3 and the president needs to stop spreading election misinformation, particularly about mail-in voting. It’s imperative that Rs join Ds in condemning this reckless rhetoric.”
Representative Chris Pappas (D): “The president’s tweet suggesting that we delay the election is reckless, irresponsible, and against the law. It serves only to undermine our most sacred institution. In accordance with state law and public health recommendations, this election will look and feel different in order to allow voters and poll workers to remain safe. But I have every confidence in the ability of New Hampshire’s local election officials to ensure we will vote safely and securely on November 3. I urge President Trump to stop spreading disinformation and commit unequivocally to upholding the rule of law for our elections.”
NEW JERSEY
Senator Cory Booker (D), via rep: “Sen. Booker does NOT support delaying the November 3 election.”
Senator Bob Menendez (D): “No.”
Representative Mikie Sherrill (D), via rep: “Rep. Sherrill spoke out forcefully against.”
Representative Bonnie Watson Coleman (D), via rep: “Rep. Watson Coleman does not support delaying the election.”
NEW MEXICO
Senator Martin Heinrich (D), via rep: “Senator Heinrich’s response is ‘no.’”
Senator Tom Udall (D): “There is no way that the president can legally delay the election. We shouldn’t let him distract us from his incompetence in handling the COVID-19 pandemic. But the fact that he is even suggesting it is a serious, chilling attack on the democratic process. All members of Congress—and the administration—should speak out. As I said in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing with Secretary Pompeo, it has been bipartisan consensus in U.S. foreign policy for generations to promote democracy abroad and urge respect for the outcome of legitimate democratic elections. It is beyond the pale that the president would repeatedly and intentionally attack the integrity of American democracy for all to see. The president’s statements will have consequences that are profoundly negative and far-reaching. These statements should be immediately met with universal condemnation by all American leaders.”
NEW YORK
Senator Chuck Schumer (D): “No.”
Representative Nydia Velázquez (D): “Donald Trump does not have the authority to change our election date. Under the constitution, only Congress can do so.”
Representative Jerrold Nadler (D): “Let’s be clear: Trump does not have the ability to delay the election. Our elections are enshrined in the Constitution. The Constitution also says that if the date of the election is to be changed, it must be changed by Congress.”
Representative Max Rose (D): “Hell no.”
Representative Adriano Espaillat (D), via rep: “Congressman Espaillat is not in favor of delaying the election and stands with House Democrats and Speaker Pelosi to reiterate that only Congress may determine the date and time of the election, per Article II, Section 1 of the United States Constitution.”
Representative José Serrano (D), via rep: “He would not be in favor.”
Representative Eliot Engel (D), via rep: “Rep. Engel would not delay the election.”
“The president voted by mail—he just doesn’t want everyone to be able to do the same.”
NORTH CAROLINA
Representative G. K. Butterfield (D): “This is another outrageous attack on our most fundamental rights and institutions by this president. The president, again, falsely and without any evidence, claims that mail-in voting this November will be fraudulent and inaccurate. This ridiculous statement was made despite his, along with many other officials in his administration, use of mail-in voting. He absolutely has no authority to change our election date and Congress will not do it for him. The American people will speak loudly and clearly on November 3.”
Representative George Holding (R): “I don’t support delaying the election in November.”
Representative Alma Adams (D): “Donald Trump wants to cancel the election because a strong majority of voters are planning to cancel the Trump presidency in November, but our voices cannot and will not be silenced. Let’s make sure we’re registered to vote so we can vote from home starting in September.”
Representative Ted Budd (R), via rep: “Rep. Budd does not favor changing the date of the November election.”
OHIO
Senator Sherrod Brown (D): “The president cannot delay the election, period. Sowing doubts about our election is dangerous. The president voted by mail—he just doesn’t want everyone to be able to do the same. This underscores the need to secure our elections and make it easier for Ohioans to vote in all forms, including by mail and early or day-of in-person voting.”
Senator Rob Portman (R), via Twitter as forwarded by rep: “As I told reporters earlier today after the idea was raised, I don’t support moving the election date. During wars, pandemics, and other emergencies, Congress has never postponed an election. Let’s work together to ensure it’s safe and secure.”
Representative Tim Ryan (D), via rep: “Rep. Tim Ryan would not be in favor of that.”
Representative Steve Stivers (R): “There is no reason to delay our election, end of story. The process is secure, and I encourage all Ohioans to make their plan to vote by November 3, either by mail or in person in a safe, socially distanced manner.”
Representative Anthony Gonzalez (R): “I do not support moving the date of the election. I have full faith that Ohio’s Secretary of State, Frank LaRose, will ensure Ohioans have a safe, fair, and on-time election that is free from fraud.”
OKLAHOMA
Senator James Lankford (R): “November 3 is Election Day.”
“President Trump doesn’t have the authority to change the election date, but he does have the power to help ensure a free, fair, and transparent election.”
OREGON
Senator Ron Wyden (D), via Twitter as forwarded by rep: “These are the musings of a wannabe tyrant. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Every Republican senator that voted against removing Trump from office is responsible for his escalating abuses of power. Election Day is November 3. Trump and his armed goons won’t change that.”
Senator Jeff Merkley (D), via rep: “Sen. Merkley is unequivocally opposed to moving the date of the election or any other attempts to rig or manipulate the result. We have a safe way to hold an election during a pandemic—a system Oregon has been using very successfully for two decades—and it’s called vote by mail.”
PENNSYLVANIA
Senator Bob Casey (D), via Twitter as forwarded by rep: “The Constitution grants Congress the power to regulate federal elections. Any change would require a federal statute passed by both the House and Senate. Despite his autocratic inclinations, the president lacks the power to unilaterally change the date of the election.”
Senator Pat Toomey (R): “I do not support moving the presidential election and the president does not have the unilateral authority to do so. However, the president is right to point out that universally mailing ballots to people who don’t request them is a horrible idea and would likely lead to voter fraud.”
Representative Dwight Evans (D): “Trump votes by mail. He just doesn’t want you to. The election WILL NOT be delayed. He’s just desperate to distract from this: The economy shrank by a THIRD from April to June.”
Representative Madeleine Dean (D): “No.”
Representative Mary Gay Scanlon (D): “Two things I’d like to clear up this morning: (1) Voting by mail is safe and secure. (2) The president can’t move an election. Only Congress has the power to do that.”
Representative Mike Doyle (D), via rep: “Congressman Doyle is NOT in favor of delaying the election.”
RHODE ISLAND
Senator Jack Reed (D): “President Trump doesn’t have the authority to change the election date, but he does have the power to help ensure a free, fair, and transparent election. If he truly cares about our democracy and safe and secure elections, he’d stop opposing aid to states for enhanced election security. He’d stop making false attacks on mail-in ballots. And he’d ensure there are safe voting options and effective auditing measures in place. He would also join the nonpartisan Intelligence community’s findings and take decisive action against foreign nations seeking to subvert our elections.”
Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D): “A president cannot legally move the election without approval from Congress, and the end of the president’s term is spelled out in the Constitution. President Trump is sowing confusion about bedrock principles of our democracy to distract from an accelerating pandemic, a massive economic contraction, and his campaign’s sinking poll numbers.”
SOUTH CAROLINA
Senator Tim Scott (R): “In this country, the presidential election is on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. I look forward to casting my vote on November 3 with my fellow Americans.”
SOUTH DAKOTA
Representative Dusty Johnson (R): “Moving Election Day would seriously jeopardize the legitimacy of the election. Federal, state, and local officials need to continue to work hard to ensure that Americans can vote safely, whether by voting early or on November 3.”
TENNESSEE
Senator Lamar Alexander (R): “We’ve had elections during wars. We’ve had elections during depressions. We’ve had elections during civil unrest. We should have our elections when it’s scheduled in November, and I’m sure we will.”
TEXAS
Representative Al Green (D): “No.”
Representative Vicente Gonzalez (D): “Donald Trump and William Barr have no authority to delay the election. Any attempt to do so would be unprecedented and unconstitutional. I agree we must work to secure the election. In order to do that, we must provide the U.S. Election Assistance Commission, the U.S. Postal Service, and state and local governments adequate resources to maintain the integrity of the democratic process, ensure the timely delivery of all mail-in ballots, and protect the health and safety of every voter. I will also continue to press the state of Texas to permit vote by mail for all Texans. Denying vote by mail threatens the safety of poll workers, voters, and forces individuals to choose between their health and disenfranchisement.”
“More dangerous, desperate bluster from the occupant of the White House. Election day cannot, shall not, and will not be changed.”
Representative Sheila Jackson Lee (D): “Not delaying.”
Representative Henry Cuellar (D): “The date of our elections is set in statute as ‘the Tuesday next after the first Monday in the month of November,’ which this year is November 3. The Constitution states that only Congress can change the date of our elections. My colleagues and I in Congress will never consider changing the date of our election to accommodate the president’s response to the coronavirus pandemic. We cannot give credence to the misinformation he spreads regarding the safety and validity of voting by mail. America has never postponed a presidential election—not through two World Wars, a Civil War, the Spanish flu, or terrorist attacks. As a nation, we will move forward and vote this November. As a senior member of the Appropriations Committee, I helped secure $3.6 billion in the Heroes Act to help state and local governments prepare for upcoming elections by expanding vote by mail and early in-person voting to reduce crowding on Election Day. I urge the Senate to pass this legislation now to ensure the integrity and security of our elections.”
UTAH
Senator Mitt Romney (R): “Mail-in voting works in our state extremely well. The great thing about it is that you have a paper document so that if you need to do a recount, you don’t have to worry about machines having been tampered with, so I’m a fan of voting by mail. Secondly, of course, we are going to have an election on time. It’s unthinkable that that would not be the case.”
VERMONT
Senator Bernie Sanders (I), via Twitter as forwarded by rep: “No, Mr. President. We are not going to postpone the presidential election. Read the Constitution (for once). On November 3, the American people will decide upon your disastrous administration and reject your authoritarianism, lies, and racism. You will lose. Bye, bye.”
Senator Patrick Leahy (D), via Twitter as forwarded by rep: “The president is attempting to undermine the legitimacy of the election—and indeed our democracy—by promoting an utterly baseless, hypocritical, and dangerous conspiracy theory. All leaders, Democrats and Republicans alike, must condemn his selfish recklessness and do so NOW.”
VIRGINIA
Senator Tim Kaine (D): “It goes without saying that the president doesn’t have the authority to delay an election. The president’s threat to do so is a threat to the Constitution and another alarming attempt to abuse his power. At President Trump’s impeachment trial, I warned my Republican colleagues, ‘An acquittal will lead to worse conduct.’ With today’s tweet, that appears to be true.”
Senator Mark Warner (D): “Never in our country’s history—not even during the Civil War or World War II—has there been a move to delay the election for president. Moreover, under the Constitution, only Congress has the power to change the date of the election, which it will not do. This is a distraction from more important issues.”
WASHINGTON
Senator Maria Cantwell (D): “I’m kind of questioning whether the heat of Washington, D.C. has gotten to people. Clearly, it has been a record July here with 90-plus-degree temperatures every day. But the notion that we should somehow cancel the election in the fall, I think, is either the heat of the moment or just clear wrongheadedness.”
Senator Patty Murray (D), via Twitter as forwarded by rep: “(1) You don’t have the power to set elections—period. (2) Voting by mail, like we do in Washington, is legitimate, safe, and secure. (3) It’s too dangerous to hold the election in November but you want to force schools to reopen in the fall? Which is it?”
Representative Rick Larsen (D): “I normally do not respond to the crazy that flows from the president’s mouth, but his idea of delaying the election is: a nonstarter; an attempted distraction from his horrible polling numbers; a diversion from his inept handling of the pandemic; another weak attempt to undermine the integrity of the vote by attacking mail-in balloting. Repeat after me: Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2020. Not a day before and not a day after.”
WEST VIRGINIA
Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R): “I do not believe we should change the date of the election. West Virginia conducted a fair primary in June, and I have every confidence that our Secretary of State, Mac Warner, and our 55 county clerks can do the same thing in November. Part of having a fair process is that everyone knows in advance when elections are going to be held, and I do not believe we should lose that consistency.”
Senator Joe Manchin (D), via Twitter as forwarded by rep: “Free and fair elections are at the heart of our democracy. We should NOT delay the upcoming election—it’s never been done and it should never be done. Many Republican senators and congresspeople have been doing mail-in ballots for a long time and feel very secure in doing it.”
WISCONSIN
Senator Tammy Baldwin (D), via Twitter as forwarded by rep: “No, @RealDonaldTrump, the election is not going to be delayed. The American people are going to vote and take back our democracy to bring about the change they want and need.”
Representative Mark Pocan (D): “The president has no authority to move this election—that power belongs to Congress only. This morning’s declaration by tweet was nothing more than an attempt to distract us from his disastrous response to this global pandemic that has resulted in 4.4 million U.S. cases, 150,000 deaths, and a 33 percent decline in the U.S. economy reported today. Unfortunately, we’ve seen this president consistently tear apart our democracy in an authoritarian power grab that has escalated over the past few months—from his violent military response to peaceful protesters to today’s autocratic suggestion to delay his own election. America is not a fascist nation, we don’t want a dictator in the Oval Office, and our election will be on November 3.”
