Key facts
- 14 of 26 surveyed candidates in competitive US Senate races said they would accept election results unconditionally.
- Nine Democratic, one independent, and four Republican campaigns stated unconditional acceptance.
- Four races saw both parties' campaigns indicate unconditional acceptance.
- In five races, Republican candidates offered conditional responses or did not address acceptance.
- White House stated Trump has worked to ensure free and fair elections and demanded voter ID.
Just over half of major party candidates in the most competitive US Senate races said they would accept election results regardless of the outcome, according to a Reuters survey. The survey, conducted less than a month before the November 3 midterms, asked candidates in 13 states whether they would accept the results and their position on potential intervention by the Trump administration.
Of the 26 campaigns surveyed, nine Democrats, one independent, and four Republicans stated their candidates would accept results without conditions. In four contests—Alaska, Iowa, Maine, and New Hampshire—both parties' campaigns indicated acceptance. However, in five other races—Kansas, Michigan, Nebraska, Ohio, and South Carolina—Democrats signaled acceptance while Republicans offered conditional responses or did not address the question. Campaigns in North Carolina, Georgia, Minnesota, and Texas did not respond to queries.
The White House stated that Trump has worked to ensure free and fair elections and demanded voter ID. Some Democrats criticized Republican voting restrictions, while some Republicans accused Democrats of undermining public trust in elections. A Reuters/Ipsos poll indicated that most American voters are confident their ballots will be accurately counted.