The senior Democratic lawmakers are taking precautions to ensure a smooth transfer of power if Kamala Harris wins the November election. They are concerned that Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson may try to sabotage an election victory for the Democrats. Top-level secret meetings are being held to guard against several possibilities that could impede the transition if the GOP loses.
While the Democratic lawmakers say such a scenario is unlikely, they worry about Johnson’s reaction if Republicans keep control of the House and oversee Harris being certified as president. In the past, the certification was a relative formality. But the events of January 6, 2021, have thrown the process into doubt. Rep.
Joe Morelle, a senior Democrat on the House Administration Committee, said, “It would be silly to ignore the history here.” He added that he thinks Johnson would “do the right thing.” But he also stated, “We’re prepared for any eventuality and…we’ll be in a position to press forward and make sure there’s a peaceful transfer.”
Insiders say another concern is that Johnson may want to win more approval from Trump and his MAGA supporters. He could do this by vowing to challenge the election results if they go against the GOP. Their worries are tempered by the fact that Harris will preside over the certification in her role as vice president.
Democrats focus on ensuring transition
In 2021, Vice President Mike Pence famously continued with the count for an opposition party president. In 2025, Harris would be certifying herself.
The Electoral Count Act was also changed in 2022. It now requires 20% of each chamber to object to the vote count. Experts have theorized four possible ways that Johnson and Trump supporters could challenge a Harris victory.
They could rewrite the rules for certification that have been in place for over a century. They could object to contested blocks of electoral votes. They could delay the vote count.
Or they could obstruct the process by challenging the Electoral Count Act. A Johnson aide dismissed the claims as part of an “alarmist narrative” from Democrats.
