Schweiker, Barletta Pen Wall Street Journal Response: “Pennsylvania’s system worked as intended”

Harrisburg, Pa. – In case you missed it, former Governor Mark Schweiker and former Congress Lou Barletta, co-chairs of RightCount Pennsylvania responded to Ari Fleischer’s Dec. 8 op-ed in the Wall Street Journal, offering their take on the strength, accuracy and safeguards of Pennsylvania’s election process.

LTE: In Pennsylvania, the Electoral System Worked
Let’s celebrate Dave McCormick’s Senate victory for what it is.
December 15, 2024

“Ari Fleischer’s call for vigilance in Pennsylvania elections (“Pennsylvania Almost Saw a Stolen Election,” op-ed, Dec. 9) rightly emphasizes the importance of upholding election integrity. But it’s worth emphasizing a critical point: Trust in elections isn’t built by undermining confidence in election officials or cherry-picking anecdotes to paint one party as inherently untrustworthy.

“As a former Republican governor and Republican U.S. congressman from Pennsylvania, we know that maintaining the rule of law and the public’s faith in our electoral process requires more than partisan finger-pointing. Pennsylvania’s bipartisan county election boards, judges and state Supreme Court have repeatedly demonstrated their commitment to interpreting and enforcing the law, even under immense political pressure.

“Mr. Fleischer overlooks the need for clear, consistent and well-communicated election rules. Pennsylvania’s election code provides safeguards against partisan scheming and fraud. Strengthening election integrity means ensuring voters and election officials understand those rules well before ballots are cast.

“Let’s celebrate Dave McCormick’s Senate victory for what it is: evidence that Pennsylvania’s system worked as intended. Disputes were resolved within the framework of the law, and every legal vote was counted.”

Mark Schweiker and Lou Barletta

Langhorne, Pa., and Hazelton, Pa. 

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