The polling analysis site FiveThirtyEight recently questioned Republican candidates across the country for Congress and statewide offices about whether they accepted Biden as the duly elected President, or if they believed Donald Trump’s lies about the 2020 election being ”stolen.” Tragically, almost 60% of Republicans still cling to this fiction, either fully or in part.

According to the survey, Republican Colin Schmitt, a candidate for the House in New York’s 18th district, “avoided answering.” If Mr. Schmitt is truly in doubt about the legitimacy of President Biden’s election, it raises serious questions about his judgment. If, however, he’s afraid to tell the uncomfortable truth to his MAGA base, it tells us that he’s a coward.

Either way, I’ll stick with Congressman Pat Ryan. He’s a veteran who actually defended the nation and has an unwavering commitment to democracy.