Is President Biden’s Warning of “Threats to Democracy” Valid?

President Joe Biden delivered a speech Wednesday night in which he warned of “threats to democracy,” taking aim at Republican Party members who cast doubt on the results of the 2020 election. Are these warnings warranted?

Key Quotes: In the speech, Biden spoke about candidates running for office who have not accepted the 2020 election results, labeling it “the path to chaos in America. It’s unprecedented. It’s unlawful. And it’s un-American.” This sentiment is echoed in an opinion piece published in CNN which deemed “democracy itself is on the ballot in 2022.” On the other side of the argument, critics have pointed to previous examples of Democrats casting doubt on elections won by Republicans, such as the 2000 and 2016 presidential elections, and the 2018 Georgia gubernatorial election. A piece in The Federalist labeled Democrats' rhetoric “bogus,” stating, “these ‘threats’ aren’t just overused, they are overexaggerated in an effort to cover up Democrats’ hypocrisy, mask their incompetence, and justify the targeting of their ideological enemies.”

For Context: Early voting for the 2022 midterm elections is already underway, and the general election day is this upcoming Tuesday, Nov. 8.  The strength of American democracy has been a key campaign point for many Democratic Party candidates in the run-up to the 2022 midterm elections. This has sparked criticism from Republicans, who accuse Democrats of fearmongering and demonizing their opponents as a form of political misdirection.