Republicans Challenging the 2020 Election Wouldn’t be Unprecedented, but Its Outcomes Might
What will happen if Trump loses this election? As with most things Trump, no one knows. So far he’s fanning fears he’ll try to discredit the vote, backing it up with baseless claims mail-in ballots are fraudulent, and Republicans nation-wide are already engaged with voting-restriction lawsuits. Many claim this (as with so many things 2020) is historically unprecedented.
Not quite. The 1960 presidential race between John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon was close — incredibly close. Out of 68 million votes cast, Kennedy won the popular vote by just 113,000 votes, a 0.2 percent margin. Nixon accepted defeat in the media, but behind the scenes, things were different. The GOP knew with just a couple more states Nixon could have won. Soon after the election, they took their grievances to courts nation-wide.
Given today’s divisive climate it’s not unreasonable to think another razor-thin election challenge is forthcoming. What makes today different, though, is Trump’s short legacy and the American environment.
Modern Republicans’ deeply distrust the media and government much more than in 1960, yet most also hold an even deeper admiration for their President. This affection, coupled with Trump’s recent court packings and refusal to guarantee accepting…
