Pundits React to Three NY Congressmen Signing Election Pledge

Three New York Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives signed an election pledge that has led some political pundits to question their motives and others to praise their actions.
The pledge, titled "Unity Commitment," authored by U.S. Reps. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.) and Don Bacon (R-Neb.), aims to safeguard the fairness and integrity of America’s democratic process by having signatories pledge to accept the results of the 2024 presidential election.
Republican U.S. Reps. Nick LaLota, Anthony D'Esposito, and Mike Lawler, all representing New York, signed the declaration on Sept. 12.
“They're pledging to accept the election results before they even know if anything is wrong,” Congressional candidate Mike Zumbluskas told Patch. “How can they do that when there's voter fraud every single year?”
Zumbluskas is campaigning against Democrat incumbent Rep. Jerry Nadler in New York’s 12th Congressional District.

Signatories to the declaration pledge to acknowledge the election winner certified at the joint meeting of Congress in January 2025 as the legitimate President of the United States.

But the petition is circular and ephemeral, according to election integrity attorney Michael Wynne.“Who certifies the results, and according to what standard," Wynne told Patch. "It effectively abandons congressional duties and overlooks the possibility that reports from some states may be rushed, haphazard, or outright unreliable."
The Houston-based attorney added that signing the pledge places politicians in a precarious position because Congress has a constitutional obligation to review election submissions by the states before certifying the outcome..

“Elections are fraught with challenges, and we must remain vigilant against a false sense of security, no matter how much we may desire it,” Wynne added.

A total of six Republican and 26 Democrat members of the U.S. Congress have signed the Unity Commitment pledge.

But neither LaLota, D'Esposito nor Lawler responded to requests for comment.
“There may be an instance where it is inarguable that a given state’s report of the vote is inaccurate through malice, machine error, AI overreliance, or human error or otherwise and that further scrutiny is required,” Wynne said. “That is the job of Congress assigned to it by the Constitution.”
D'Esposito and Lawler are being challenged by Democrats with more cash while LaLota is campaigning against Suffolk County Democrat and former CNN anchor John Avlon in New York's First Congressional District, which is considered a swing seat.

As a result, New York GOP strategist William F. B. O'Reilly believes the pledge makes sense.

“A lot of voters sitting on the fence, independents, soft Democrats, and moderate Republicans, care deeply about the democratic process, and the pledge helps assure them that it will go on just as it always has,” O’Reilly told Patch. “This is unquestionably a plus for these candidates, no matter what the bomb-throwers say."
In New York's 17th Congressional District, which encompasses Rockland County, Democrat Mondaire Jones is leading financially with about $4.31 million in cash on hand compared with Lawler’s $3.93 million, according to FEC data.
Democrat Laura Gillen has about $2.52 million in cash on hand in New York's Fourth Congressional District, compared to incumbent D'Esposito's $2.17 million. The Fourth Congressional District includes Central and Southern Nassau County.
“The New York Republican representatives are playing two sides to the middle to win over the moderate Democrats that they can win but they're not standing by the Constitution,” Zumbluskas said.
Madeline Summerville, an attorney and political analyst in the battleground state of Georgia, views the pledge as a general statement on preparedness.
The declaration states that parties to the petition agree to speak out against those who endorse or engage in violence that harms people, property, or public spaces.
“This Pledge, it seems, is meant to quell the fear amongst the American people, by assuring them that their representatives will use the power they have to prevent another January 6th from happening,” Summerville told Patch.

The participating House politicians also vow to attend the elected president’s inauguration ceremony in person.

Not attending the inauguration would send the wrong signal and undermine trust in the system, according to Save Democracy founder Dan McMillan.

"Republicans who signed this are running in districts that are vulnerable," McMillan told Patch.

Save Democracy is a nonpartisan organization that aims to reform the campaign finance contribution process.

"It is no accident that those are the Republican members of Congress who are willing to break with Trump because by joining this statement, they are effectively breaking with President Trump and risking his anger," McMillan added.