Lawmakers Don’t Want to Think About the Insurrection as They Certify the 2024 Election

Lawmakers from both parties are hoping to return to a normal election certification process. As one Democrat put it: “Donald Trump won. So it’ll be all ice cream and puppy dogs.”

Mahogany boxes that will hold the electoral votes.

Aaron Schwartz/Sipa USA via AP

Lawmakers heading to Capitol Hill to certify the results of the presidential election expect to have a quiet Monday — a far cry from the chaotic and violent scene of four years ago.

Democrats, who made the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection a touchstone of their unsuccessful campaigning this fall, were not going out of their way to commemorate the anniversary. And Republicans seemed poised to continue downplaying the insurrection, with some sticking to the position that the violence of Jan. 6 doesn’t deserve any air time.

Most of the lawmakers from both parties who spoke to NOTUS seemed eager to have as normal a day as possible.