McEachin to challenger: Acknowledge legitimacy of 2020 elections, or no debates

U.S Representative Donald McEachin (VA-4th District) has a simple message for his challenger: acknowledge that the 2020 election results were legitimate, or there will be no debates.

Republican challenger Leon Benjamin has asked McEachin, a Democrat, for two debates – one organized by each candidate’s campaign.

But in a letter McEachin sent to Benjamin Monday, the Democratic Congressman said that while he’s open to the debates, they won’t happen until Benjamin recants his claims that McEachin’s victory in 2020 (by more than 90,000 votes) and President Joe Biden’s win the same year were fraudulent.

“My victory – and the significant margin – are facts and facts are not fungible,” McEachin wrote. “Until you accept the results of the 2020 election, concede the 2020 congressional race and acknowledge President Biden's victory, I will make no joint appearance with you. No objective or knowledgeable individual has ever questioned the 2020 congressional election in VA-04 nor has anyone alleged anything out of the ordinary in that race except you who has cited nothing to attest to your position. Reality is not simply what you want it to be.”

McEachin told Benjamin that facts and elections must be trusted in order for democracy to survive and thrive.

“Should you decide to review the uncontested facts and acknowledge my victory and President Biden’s victory I would be happy to engage in debates organized, as is the case in real trustworthy campaigns, by neutral respected institutions in our district."

The Fourth District includes the eastern portion of Henrico County, as well as all or parts of Charles City, Chesterfield, Dinwiddie, Greensville, Prince George, Southampton, Surry, and Sussex, and all or part of the independent cities of Chesapeake, Colonial Heights, Emporia, Hopewell, Petersburg, Richmond and Suffolk.