States United Statement: 2024 Presidential Race

A statement from Joanna Lydgate, President and CEO of the States United Democracy Center, on the 2024 presidential race

In America, the people decide elections. We now know that the people have chosen to re-elect Donald Trump as president. As we’ve said all along, the canvassing and certification processes must go forward before the result is official. However, the outcome at this point is clear.

As we acknowledge the choice of the voters in this free and fair election, we must tell the truth about Trump’s record on democracy and be direct about the threat he poses in a second term. After he lost the 2020 election, Trump waged a step-by-step campaign to overturn the result and throw away the votes of tens of millions of Americans. He has spread conspiracy theories and lies. He has repeatedly used his platform to lob threats and violent rhetoric against his opponents, with very real consequences for their safety and for our democracy.

In January, he will once again be sworn in as the President of the United States. With his allies, he has laid out a plan for his presidency that directly threatens the foundations of our democracy—including promises to withhold federal money and abuse our law enforcement system, all to punish those who disagree with him.

Since our organization was founded, we’ve said that the work of protecting our democracy starts in the states. That’s never been more true than it is today. American democracy rests in the hands of our state officials. At States United, we will continue doing what we’ve always done: providing critical back-up to the state leaders who will need to defend the rule of law and our fundamental freedoms.

Protecting and perfecting our democracy is the project of each generation. The next four years will present our generation’s greatest test. In the fight ahead, each and every one of us who care about the future of American democracy must work together to safeguard our constitutional rights and support pro-democracy officials at all levels of government.