U of M political expert: ‘The losing candidate needs to gracefully concede’

University of Minnesota political science professor Larry Jacobs told 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS he expects the presidential election to have delays, including multiple legal challenges, but sees a peaceful transition of presidential power.

“I think President Trump or former Vice President Joe Biden would have every right to fight for every vote possible in such a close election,” Jacobs said. “But once the legal challenges — if there is evidence to support legal challenges — and if recounts don’t change things in any individual state, then the losing candidate needs to gracefully concede.”

According to Jacobs, there’s a provision in the U.S. Constitution that outlines a process for a peaceful transition of power following presidential elections.

“The only time that was seriously challenged was in 1824 when General Andrew Jackson made threats to raise up the military after he lost a narrow presidential election to John Quincy Adams,” he said.

Jacobs said Jackson, despite his threats, decided to leave peacefully and head back home to Tennessee. He would return to Washington four years later and win the presidential election to become the seventh president of the United States.