This man brings up a legal point in the election, that Democrats deny completely, as they can’t possibly see a way to win with Biden on the ticket.
Just hours before President Joe Biden announced he was stepping down from the 2024 presidential race, House Speaker Mike Johnson raised concerns about the legal implications of such a move. Speaking on ABC’s “This Week” with co-anchor Martha Raddatz, Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana, argued that switching out Biden for another candidate could lead to significant legal challenges in some states.
Speaker Johnson tells @MarthaRaddatz that Democrats might “run into some legal impediments” if they tried to replace Joe Biden on the ticket.
“It would be wrong and I think unlawful…for a handful of people to go in the backroom and switch it out.” https://t.co/YHfB2tipgb pic.twitter.com/T2PcBgtxdl
— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) July 21, 2024
Johnson asserted that state regulations might not permit a simple substitution of Biden’s name on the ballot. “It would be wrong, and I think unlawful, according to some of these states’ rules, for a few people to go into a back room and switch out the candidate just because they no longer favor him. That’s not how this process should work. I think they would encounter legal obstacles in several jurisdictions,” he told Raddatz.
He further elaborated that a compelling case could be made against such a substitution. “I think there will be a strong argument that this shouldn’t happen, and they’ve got legal trouble if that’s their plan. So we’ll see how it plays out,” Johnson added.
Contrary to Johnson’s concerns, election law expert Richard Hasen stated that the notion of the Democratic Party being unable to replace Biden on the ticket holds no merit. He explained that since Biden is not yet the official nominee, the nominating process, which takes place during the Democratic National Convention, would determine the candidate. “Joe Biden is not the party’s nominee now, and states generally list the major party’s nominee on the ballot,” Hasen wrote earlier this month.
“From our perspective, it doesn’t matter who they put at the top of the ticket. If Kamala is the nominee, so be it,” GOP Speaker Mike Johnson says of Vice Pres. Harris.
“She is the co-author and the co-owner of the policies of the Biden administration.” https://t.co/YHfB2tipgb pic.twitter.com/mXoF62TKHU
— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) July 21, 2024
Raddatz queried Johnson on how Republicans might adjust their strategy if Vice President Kamala Harris were to replace Biden as the Democratic nominee. Johnson dismissed the significance of the individual at the top of the ticket, asserting that Harris shares responsibility for the current administration’s policies. “If Kamala is the nominee, so be it. She is the co-author and co-owner of the Biden administration’s policies, and she owns all these policy failures herself,” he said.
An ABC News/Washington Post/Ipsos poll published last week showed Harris leading Trump 49-46% among all adults if she were to replace Biden as the Democratic nominee. Johnson expressed confidence in the Republican position, emphasizing that the election should focus on policies rather than personalities. “It’s no contest, and everyone knows that. I think we’re in a strong position. This election should be about policies, not personalities,” he stated.
Raddatz noted that former President Donald Trump had personally attacked Harris at a rally in Grand Rapids, Michigan, calling her “crazy” and “nuts.” Johnson responded by pointing out that Democrats have similarly attacked Trump. “We could play back the tape of the terrible things Kamala Harris has said about Donald Trump, and Biden too, and all the Democrat leadership. We’re used to it now; it’s their standard practice,” he said.
🚨🇺🇸SPEAKER JOHNSON: LEGAL BATTLES COULD ENSUE IF DEMS REPLACED BIDEN
“I mean, every state has their own election system.
That’s our constitutional system. That’s the way it’s done.
And in some of these states, it’s a real hurdle.
They have a real problem of replacing the… pic.twitter.com/Pcpx18bk8Z
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) July 21, 2024
Major Points:
- House Speaker Mike Johnson expressed legal concerns about replacing Biden on the ballot, suggesting it might be unlawful in some states.
- Election law expert Richard Hasen countered that the Democratic Party can replace Biden since he is not yet the official nominee.
- Johnson stated that the Republican strategy would not change significantly if Kamala Harris became the nominee, emphasizing policy over personality.
- A recent poll showed Harris leading Trump if she replaced Biden as the Democratic nominee.
- Johnson addressed personal attacks between Trump and Harris, highlighting the contentious nature of the political discourse.
TL Holcomb – Reprinted with permission of Whatfinger News
