KRISTEN WELKER: Well, here we are, about a week before the Republican convention. Before I let you go: can you say unequivocally- unequivocally, here and now, that you will accept the results of the 2024 election no matter what they are?
JD VANCE: So long as it's a free and fair election, Kristen, of course, we will. We will use constitutional processes to challenge issues if we think there are issues, but if it's a free and fair election we will do what the Constitution requires, we will respect the results and I expect these results are going to be to reelect Donald Trump.
WELKER: It was a free and fair election in 2020, Donald Trump took his concerns to court. He lost in court but he has not conceded. Do you understand that when you refuse to commit unequivocally, that feeds into people's concerns- skepticism about the nation's electoral process?
VANCE: Well, Kristen, I don't agree with that, actually. I think that feeding into people's concerns about our electoral process is one half of America's political segment, they won't support legislation that makes it harder for illegal aliens to vote. They won’t support universal voter ID in our elections even though you have to present I.D. to do almost anything in this country. I think taking people’s concerns seriously about election fraud…
WELKER: Senator…Senator…Senator, it’s already against the law…
VANCE: …is the way to reinforce security and confidence in our elections.
WELKER: Senator, it's already against the law for non-citizens to vote. But just on that very point: when you, when others refuse to say, “yes, we will accept the election results”, do you understand how that undermines people's confidence in the electoral system?
WELKER: But Kristen, what I just said is I don't agree with that. What I think actually undermines people's confidence in the electoral system is when the media is incurious about obvious examples of problems in our electoral system. I think we’ve got great elections, but a lot of things could be better in certain states. I want to work to make that happen so the American people have greater confidence in our elections. That’s what I’ll keep doing.
