The Spectre of 2020 Haunts the GOP

The refusal of Republicans to denounces Trump's stolen election lies continues to harm them.

Editor’s note: due to Hurricane Melton today’s issue of the Freemen Newsletter comes to you later than usual. Your friendly neighborhood editor apologizes.

At the only vice presidential debate this election cycle, Trump's running mate, Senator J.D. Vance, refused to say whether his boss lost the 2020 election. It was a glaring deflection. From the moment the last presidential election was called, the 45th president has insisted it was stolen. Nearly four years later, those claims are still made. It remains a hallmark in Trump's long list of grievances. And his anger at the "stolen" election partly fuels his mission to retake the White House. 

It's no surprise that Vance was unwilling to admit the 2020 defeat. His role as vice presidential running mate is not all that dissimilar from the role of press secretary. He has been tasked with (and accepted) the position of biggest Trump cheerleader. His goal is to make himself and his boss look good. His job is to sell the Republican Party ticket. Trump is at the top of the ticket. Even if he believes the 2020 election, while disappointing, was legitimate, he won't admit as much. This is not a particularly shocking development. But it is harmful both in the short-term and long-term. 

While it's not accurate to say no discrepancies exist in the 2020 election, it is correct to say there has been no proof of widespread fraud or illegitimacy. No election is perfectly executed. And both Republicans and Democrats should strive toward goals of transparency and accuracy. But the Trump team, and its biggest supporters, claim that both a large-scale assault took place on election night and that there was enough of it to sway the election in Joe Biden's favor. These claims are outlandish, to say the least. As a result, they require the necessary evidence to back up the claim. This evidence does not exist. 

Some may say it's a waste of time to counter the arguments made by Trump and his surrogates concerning the 2020 election. To be sure, it is a major distraction from the goal of advancing conservatism. The Republican Party is in desperate need of a course correction. However, because the 45th president and current Republican presidential nominee continues to make claims about a stolen election, rebuttals are necessary. The same applies when a vice presidential candidate refuses to be clear on the issue. The Democrats aren't worth supporting this election. Kamala Harris and Tim Walz do not deserve my vote. Unlike what some have argued, a vote for Harris-Walz doesn't save American conservatism. But the stolen election subject matter still exists within our discourse because Donald J. Trump and his breathless defenders insist on obsessing over it. 

In July 2022, a 72-page report entitled "Lost, Not Stolen" was published by a group of conservative who have made names for themselves in political and legal circles. Needless to say, it is important for individuals with both the appropriate education and expertise to speak on the matter. Just as necessary is that those individuals are ideologically on the right side of the aisle. Political opponents are quick to combat claims of any kind, no matter if they have value or not. When someone who is more ideological ally than adversary pushes back against bogus declarations, it holds extra weight. Walter Olson of the Cato Institute said of the report in 2022, "Their 'unequivocal' conclusion is that Trump lost; in fact, they find no credible evidence that fraud changed the outcome even in a single precinct, let alone in any state. Most of the report consists of a state-by-state refutation of claims circulated about voting results in Arizona and Georgia (six claims apiece), Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. Note that the last-named of these states has already been the subject of a useful report from the right-leaning Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty....and that Republican authorities in states like Georgia have also carried out extensive audits and reviews regarding those states’ votes."

There are many reasons to reject claims of a stolen election, not least of which is that the assertions don't line up at all with the facts. And the truth should always override personal biases or desires. The peaceful transfer of power is a must, even if our preferred candidate does not win. This is a cherished feature of a free, fair, democratic society. It should be respected no matter who rightly wins any given election. 

But the claims of a stolen election do far more than clash against facts. 

In the 2024 campaign, the Trump-Vance ticket is asking Americans to reject Harris-Walz and support them on election day. An overarching theme is that Democrats lie. The Democratic Party as a whole lies about the economy/inflation, healthcare, education, foreign policy, abortion, etc. Kamala Harris flip-flops about both her record and plans if she were to become president. Tim Walz is untrustworthy. These are worthwhile avenues of attack. The obvious problem is as Trump-Vance and the GOP point out the flaws on the left, they're busy regurgitating debunked claims about an almost 4-year-old election they already lost. It's a weapon the left can continue to use: "See? They can't be honest about this issue. How can you trust them?"

January 6, 2021 is a stain on this nation's history. No, it's not akin to 9/11, as some would have you believe. But it is a disgrace and no amount of ill behavior from the Democratic Party will erase the words and actions of that day. It should not be excused or diminished for what it is. The day was fueled by one man whose personal ambitions and overflow of narcissism pushed him to the extreme. Since then, Donald J. Trump has not let up and repeats "stolen election" on the regular. It will likely continue no matter what happens on the upcoming election day. He will always feel the supposed slight and far too many sycophants will play victim with him.

The Republican Party needs to sober up. Right now, it's barely the functioning alternative to the Democratic Party. As long as Trump is at the head, the focus won't be on honesty, humility, reorganization, or growth. And without the first - honesty - the rest will not fully materialize. At the top of the list? Accepting and moving past the 2020 election. 

That J.D. Vance is reluctant to admit Trump lost the election says much about the private conversations and motivations of the former president. He is unwilling to admit defeat, four years on. His selection for vice president is united with him on this. During the debate, Vance said, "Tim, I’m focused on the future" when pressed on the 2020 election issue. But everyone, Vance included, only has Trump to blame for the rehashing of an election that has long-been decided. 

Kimberly Ross is a freelance opinion writer who has written political and cultural commentary since 2015. She has bylines at The Federalist, USA Today, The Bulwark, Arc Digital, and ACN Ireland, among others. She was a senior contributor at RedState from 2015-2019. She has been a contributor to Washington Examiner's Beltway Confidential Blog since 2018 and frequently appears in Washington Examiner magazine. She is co-host of The Right Thoughts Podcast. She holds a BA in History with graduate work in political science. She lives with her husband and two energetic sons in the Southern United States. Follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @SouthernKeeks.