In a recent interview, former President Donald Trump asserted that he could win the state of California in the upcoming presidential election if votes were counted fairly.
If Jesus Did the Counting
Trump made these claims during a conversation with TV host Phil McGraw, also known as "Dr. Phil." According to Trump, the issue lies not with his campaign's performance but with the integrity of the vote-counting process, according to Hotnews.
Trump stated, "I guarantee that if Jesus came down and was the one counting the votes, I would win California."
This comment highlights Trump's ongoing contention that voter fraud and dishonesty skew election results in states with large Democratic majorities. He further elaborated that despite his belief in his popularity and support among Hispanic voters, the mail-in voting system leads to "massive fraud."
Sceptic Towards Mail-in Voting
In the 2020 presidential election, Democratic candidate Joe Biden won California by a substantial margin, securing about 63.5% of the vote compared to Trump's 34.3%. California, with its 54 electoral votes, is the most significant prize in the Electoral College.
Trump's comments reflect a broader skepticism he has expressed about mail-in voting. He criticized the system, which allowed California to send ballots to all registered voters, arguing that it leads to increased opportunities for fraud.
The 2020 election saw a significant rise in mail-in voting, with around 17.1 million ballots cast, compared to about 13.2 million in 2016.
Historically, California has been a stronghold for Democrats, with the last Republican presidential win in the state occurring in 1988, when George H.W. Bush defeated Michael Dukakis. Despite Trump's assertions, the state's recent voting patterns suggest a continued Democratic stronghold.
