Rubio Calls out Stacey Abrams, but Not Trump, for Denying Election Results

© Getty Images/Joe Raedle Democratic Representative Val Demings, left, at a press conference at the IBEW Local 349 in Miami, Florida; Republican Senator Marco Rubio, right, speaks to reporters after campaigning with Cuban-American leaders. Demings and Rubio squared off during a debate Tuesday night over the economy, immigration and other issues.

Republican Senator Marco Rubio called Stacey Abrams an election-denier for refusing to concede Georgia’s 2018 governor’s race, but made no mention of former President Donald Trump’s baseless claims that his reelection was stolen.

Rubio made the comments about the Democratic hopeful for governor of Georgia on Tuesday night during a debate with Representative Val Demings in Lake Worth Beach. The Republican senator was asked if he would accept the election results amid growing concerns about American democracy, to which he replied he would accept the outcome of his race, unlike Abrams. However, Rubio didn’t bring up Trump’s repeatedly debunked claim that the 2020 presidential election was marred by widespread fraud.

“I’m not like Stacey Abrams in Georgia denied her election,” said Rubio. “I’ve never denied an election. I think in Florida, we have great election laws.”

After a close election, Abrams refused to concede the Georgia governor’s race to Republican Brian Kemp, who was overseeing elections as secretary of state. Abrams said Kemp had engaged in voter suppression to win.

This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.

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