Mar 7, 2024 - Politics & Policy

Exclusive: Byron Donalds wouldn't commit to certifying election results as Trump's VP

Stephen Neukam

U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL) talks to reporters as he leaves the U.S. Capitol on November 14, 2023 in Washington, DC. — Byron Donalds. Photo: Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) suggested Thursday at an Axios event that he would be willing to decline to certify the 2028 election results if he was vice president.

Why it matters: Donalds is one of the names being floated as a possible vice presidential pick for former President Trump.

Donalds also did not clarify if he would have certified the 2020 election results, during an interview with Axios' Sophia Cai.
Trump, the GOP presidential frontrunner, has continued to push the false theory that the 2020 election was stolen from him on the 2024 campaign trail.

The big picture: Trump and his allies will want a VP pick that is more willing to comply with the former president's wishes, which former Vice President Pence rejected by certifying the 2020 results.

"If you have state officials who are violating the election law in their states ... then no, I would not," Donalds said when asked if he would certify the 2028 results as vice president.
Donalds said "I already know" states did not follow election laws in 2020.
But when asked if he agreed with Pence's move to certify the results, Donalds said "you can only ask that question of Mike Pence."

Zoom out: Pence's decision to certify the results made him an enemy of the MAGA movement.

His 2024 presidential bid flamed out after it failed to find traction with Trump-aligned conservatives and more moderate Republicans.

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Exclusive: Byron Donalds wouldn't commit to certifying election results as Trump's VP

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