Rep. Jamie Raskin did not say he 'won't certify U.S. election' if Trump wins

As the 2024 United States (U.S.) presidential election votes are tallied, various statements are emerging online — but not all can be taken at face value. For instance, a viral post (archived here) with 9.2 million views and 17,000 reposts at the time of writing claims that U.S. Representative Jamie Raskin said, “Let folks cast their votes for Trump if that’s their choice. But mark my words, we won’t be certifying the election. He might win, but we’ll ensure he doesn’t step foot in the Oval Office.”

However, no credible news outlet has reported these remarks, and Raskin himself has dismissed the quote as false.

Context

Raskin represents Maryland's 8th Congressional District, which includes parts of Montgomery and Prince George's counties. A Democrat, Raskin was first elected in 2016 and has been re-elected multiple times, most recently on November 6, 2024.

Closer look

Efforts to verify the alleged quote found no authoritative sources supporting its authenticity.

Shortly after the post surfaced, Raskin addressed it on X (formerly Twitter). He wrote, “This fictional 'quote' is 100% fabricated. It’s one more lie in the stream of right-wing lies designed to undermine our election. Despite this actionable libel and all the disinformation, America is having a free and fair election, and Congress will certify the winner.”

Jamie Raskin’s response appeared as follows at the time of writing. (Source: RepRaskin on X)

Raskin reiterated his position in a November 5 Daily Beast interview, stating that House Democrats would challenge any unlawful actions by Trump and emphasizing the importance of upholding election integrity. “We will not go along with any fraud. We're going to stand up for a fair and honest election, as we always have,” he said.

In an October interview with Axios, Raskin clarified that Democrats would accept the result of a free and fair election, though he expressed concerns that Trump might attempt to interfere.

The verdict

U.S. Representative Jamie Raskin has not made the statement attributed to him regarding not accepting Trump’s victory. No credible sources have published it, and Raskin has personally refuted the claim.