The self-proclaimed defenders of democracy, otherwise known as the Democratic Party, did not object to the certification of the election results for a Republican winner for the first time since 1989.
Under the 12th Amendment, Congress must certify the results of every election before a new administration can take office, leading to an awkward moment for Vice President Kamala Harris as she bore witness to Senators listing every state she lost in November 2024.
Lawmakers can object to a state’s results, with 147 Republicans doing so following the controversial 2020 ballot just over four years ago, which was an anomaly under extremely suspicious election circumstances. However, despite their desire to be seen as staunch defenders of democratic processes, the Democrats have also dished out their fair share of objections to Republican President-elects.
11 objections were raised when Congress met to certify to Donald Trump’s first electoral victory in Jan. 2017, while 32 Democrats attempted to overturn the results of 2004’s presidential election. George W. Bush also saw opposition to his extraordinarily close win in 2000.
Unsurprisingly, Democrats did not object any year in which a party colleague won the election.
Some on social media were skeptical as to why the Democrats had refused to object to any of the results.
Others had their own theories.
