“That’s Total Bunk” Gov. Jared Polis Dismisses Legal Challenge to Biden’s Replacement
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Speaker Mike Johnson’s stern warning of imminent legal action failed to impress Colorado Governor Jared Polis, who dismissed Johnson’s argument as utter nonsense during an interview on CNN Monday afternoon.
“That’s total bunk,” Polis stated, responding to Johnson’s assertion that President Joe Biden could be legally forced onto November ballots. “The truth is the Democratic Party doesn’t have our nominee yet. … That’s what the Democratic conventions are for.”
Polis’ eye-roll came after Johnson warned that Republicans are gearing up to wage legal battles over the expected switch from Biden to Vice President Kamala Harris. The Heritage Foundation, a powerful Republican think tank behind Project 2025, is reportedly considering courtroom fights in key states such as Wisconsin, Georgia, and Nevada.
Polis scoffed at the notion that such legal actions could succeed and threw his full support behind Harris. Even CNN anchor Dana Bash seemed to appreciate the prospect of a race that would not be “a rematch between two old white men,” as she put it.
“As the father of a 10-year-old daughter, I was so excited to be able to tell her yesterday that our country is about to have our first woman president,” Polis said. “We’ve got a vibrant, exciting, experienced young candidate with a vision about the future of our country.”
When asked by Bash if he considered himself a viable option for Harris’ running mate, Polis acknowledged the strategic advantage of swing state governors. “Frankly, I like the idea of governors,” said Polis. “They are executives. They’re ready to go.”
However, Polis downplayed the importance of running mates and his own eligibility with a humorous remark that made Bash laugh out loud. “[The election] is always decided on the top of the ticket, right? So this is going to be Trump, if he stays in and doesn’t drop out, versus Kamala Harris,” Polis said. “If they do the polling and it turns out that they need a 49-year-old balding, gay Jew from Boulder, Colorado, they have my number.”
As the political landscape shifts with Harris potentially leading the Democratic ticket, the Republican threats of legal action underscore the contentious nature of the upcoming election. Polis’ confident dismissal of these threats highlights the ongoing debates and the importance of the upcoming Democratic conventions in determining the party’s nominee.
