Will Republicans accept the results if Trump loses? The Enquirer asked RNC delegates

MILWAUKEE – A recent CNN poll showed a majority of Americans, 71% of those polled, don't think former President Trump will concede the election in November if he loses.

Trump has repeated false claims about the 2020 election being stolen, despite no proof.

What about his supporters? If he loses the 2024 election, will Republicans accept the results?

The Enquirer asked Ohio delegates who convened in Milwaukee to nominate Trump for president whether they would accept the results if Trump loses. Here are their responses to that question:

Alternate Delegate Andrew Pappas, 58, Anderson Township.

Pappas said he would accept the results if Trump loses. But he's skeptical of the electoral system.

"I'm hearing reports, as you are, that some states are allowing people that have come here illegally to start the registration process to vote. I don't know how accurate they are," Pappas said.

When asked where he read that, Pappas wouldn't specify beyond saying he saw that on social media. Instances of undocumented immigrants voting is extremely rare, according to the Associated Press and many other news agencies and experts.

"To count the vote and trust the outcome of the vote, we need to also make sure that we ensure the integrity of the vote," Pappas said.

He said the 2020 election was legitimate.

"Of course I would accept the results," Pappas said. "I accepted the results last time. Joe Biden won the election in 2020."

Alternate delegate Nick Owens, 39, Georgetown, chairman of the Brown County Republican Party

"I don't think Donald Trump's gonna lose," Owens said.

When pressed by The Enquirer, Owens responded, "We'll cross that bridge when we get there."

Delegate Jack Etheridge, over 60 (wouldn't give specific age), Columbus

Etheridge said he'd accept the vote result if it's "properly tabulated and with a transparent process."

"Then of course we're going to accept the results," Etheridge said.

When asked what would convince him that votes were properly counted, Etheridge couldn't say.

"It's not something I even think about," Etheridge said. "We've got a country to govern. We're in a dangerous world. We're at the same time on the cusp of so much opportunity. I'm not really thinking about it."

Does he feel the 2020 election was legitimate?

"I don't even think about 2020."

Alternate delegate Fiona Ruminski, 63, Steubenville

Ruminski said she'd accept a Trump loss in Ohio. Elsewhere could be another matter.

"I will accept the results," Ruminski said. "At least in (Ohio). I can't talk for other states. But I know in this state, we have free and fair elections."

Ruminski questioned the legitimacy of the 2020 election, saying there were "things in certain states that need to be looked at."

She wouldn't say whether she thought Trump won or lost the 2020 election.

"That's the thing. Does it really matter? 2020 was in 2020," Ruminski said. "This is 2024. You know, whether you think he lost, or whether you think it was rigged, at the end of the day, right now, Biden is the president, and in 2025 in January, we need to make sure he's not the president by electing Donald Trump."

Delegate Tim O'Hara, 47, Bethel, former congressional candidate

O'Hara, who ran for the 2nd Congressional District seat, didn't want to speculate on whether he'd accept a Trump loss.

"We're not there," O'Hara said. "I don't speak in hypotheticals. I'm past the 2020 election. I'm looking for the future. There's a saying I live by, 'Never look back unless you plan on going in that direction.'"

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: What will Republicans do if Trump loses?