GOP lawmaker says he will oppose any attempts to delay election

A Republican lawmaker broke with President Trump on Thursday and said he would oppose any attempts to delay the November election after Trump floated the idea.

“Reminder: Election dates are set by Congress,” Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) tweeted in response to the president. “And I will oppose any attempts to delay the #2020Election.”

Reminder: Election dates are set by Congress. And I will oppose any attempts to delay the #2020Election. https://t.co/ptjG86YiF6

— Adam Kinzinger (@RepKinzinger) July 30, 2020

Kinzinger’s tweet came after Trump in a tweet Thursday morning pitched the idea of delaying the election — something he does not have the power to do.

Trump launched into fresh attacks against mail-in voting and suggested that absentee or mail-in ballots could result in the “most INACCURATE & FRAUDULENT Election in history.”

“It will be a great embarrassment to the USA. Delay the Election until people can properly, securely and safely vote???” the president wrote.

There is no evidence to support the idea that either absentee or mail-in ballots increase voter fraud. It also does not appear that there will be universal mail-in voting this fall, though some states require mail-in ballots.

The question from Trump comes as he continues to trail presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden in national polls.

The tweet also marks a departure from Trump’s previous stance of keeping the election on Nov. 3, despite concerns about the safety of in-person voting during the ongoing coronavirus crisis.

Biden in late April predicted Trump may try to push back the election, a suggestion the Trump’s campaign dismissed at the time as “the incoherent, conspiracy theory ramblings of a lost candidate who is out of touch with reality.”

The president’s suggestion was met with fierce backlash from Democratic lawmakers.

“There is no way @POTUS can delay the election. We shouldn’t let him distract us from his #COVID19 incompetence,” Sen. Tom Udall (D-N.M.) tweeted. “But the fact that he is even suggesting it is a serious, chilling attack on the democratic process. All members of Congress— and the administration— should speak out.”

There is no way @POTUS can delay the election. We shouldn’t let him distract us from his #COVID19 incompetence.

But the fact that he is even suggesting it is a serious, chilling attack on the democratic process. All members of Congress— and the administration— should speak out. pic.twitter.com/saznCjSe0N

— Tom Udall (@SenatorTomUdall) July 30, 2020

“No king for America. Trump suggesting indefinite delay in the election—absolutely jaw dropping arrogance. Unconscionable & unconstitutional,” Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) wrote.

No king for America. Trump suggesting indefinite delay in the election—absolutely jaw dropping arrogance. Unconscionable & unconstitutional. https://t.co/gJAOZ7uvpg

— Richard Blumenthal (@SenBlumenthal) July 30, 2020

Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) simply responded by quoting the paragraph from the U.S. Constitution which gives Congress the right to determine the time and date of elections.

“The Congress may determine the Time of chusing the Electors, and the Day on which they shall give their Votes; which Day shall be the same throughout the United States.”

— The U.S. Constitution https://t.co/cbuERgYuK0

— Tammy Duckworth (@SenDuckworth) July 30, 2020