Fewer than three weeks before the United States midterm elections, nearly half of the campaigns competing in key Senate races have declined to make an unconditional commitment to accepting the results, raising questions about political confidence in the electoral process.
According to a Reuters survey published Thursday, 14 of 26 campaigns contacted across 13 competitive states said their candidates would accept the November 3 election results regardless of the outcome. The commitments came from nine Democratic campaigns, four Republican campaigns and one independent candidate.
The remaining campaigns either provided qualified responses, avoided directly answering the question or did not respond to requests for comment. The findings do not establish that those candidates intend to reject the results.
The survey focused on states that could determine which party controls the Senate during the final two years of President Donald Trump’s term.
Republicans currently hold a 53–47 majority in the chamber, but competitive races and dissatisfaction with economic conditions have given Democrats an opportunity to challenge that control.
In Alaska, Iowa, Maine and New Hampshire, campaigns from both major parties committed to accepting the results without conditions.
In Kansas, Michigan, Nebraska, Ohio and South Carolina, Democratic or independent candidates gave unconditional assurances, while their Republican opponents offered qualified answers or did not directly address the question.
In Georgia, Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff’s campaign said it expected a fair election but would pursue legal action if credible evidence emerged of interference. His Republican opponent’s campaign did not respond to Reuters.
The White House defended the administration’s approach to election security, emphasizing President Trump’s calls for voter identification requirements and proof of citizenship.
The findings come against the backdrop of continuing disputes over election administration, mail-in voting and the authority of federal and state governments.
Despite uncertainty among some candidates, public confidence in the electoral process has improved.
A Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted between September 30 and October 5 found that 76 percent of registered voters believed their ballots would be counted accurately, compared with 69 percent in 2022.
The contrast between candidates’ responses and voters’ confidence highlights the political sensitivity surrounding the November elections, when Americans will decide control of Congress and the direction of federal policymaking.
