James Carville warned Democrats over the weekend that the GOP could desperately try to cling to power by refusing to swear in newly elected lawmakers should the party lose control of the House or Senate in the midterms.
The Democratic strategist, on his “Politics War Room” podcast with Al Hunt, responded to a listener who asked if the GOP could pull a move similar to House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) delaying the swearing-in of Rep. Adelita Grijalva (D-Ariz.) for seven weeks after her special election win last year.
“You cannot talk about it enough. It’s too dangerous and they’re going to try it,” said Carville, who suggested there be an “early warning system” to flag such moves.
Moments earlier, Hunt stressed that top Democrats are “really worried” about the issue, adding that Republicans will “do anything to remain in power.”
“They’ll try to sabotage elections beforehand and if they lose, that’s the kind of trick they may try to play,” Hunt said.
“And the only thing I would say to Democrats: Please, please, please have the best legal advice that you can have on this because you’re going to have to fight like hell because there’s nothing that they won’t do.”
When Johnson delayed Grijalva’s swearing-in during the government shutdown last year, Democrats accused him of doing so because she was the key vote on a bipartisan petition to force a House vote regarding the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files.
Grijalva, in remarks from the House floor after being sworn in, called the delay “an abuse of power.”
Carville told Hunt that Democrats ought to have “not just good lawyers” but “good preparation,” as well, in case Republicans delay swearing in future lawmakers.
“You got to be ready to go when it happens to stoke what I think would be a huge outrage in this country,” Carville said.
“I think this is a lot harder to do than we think. I’m not saying they’re not going to try it, but I think it’s going to be very hard for them to do. Very hard, when, particularly, when you’re forewarned.”