Two U.S. House members are pressuring colleagues to sign a pledge committing to accept this fall's election results and oppose any attempt to block the seating of fellow members in the next Congress.

Rep. Josh Gottheimer, a New Jersey Democrat, and Rep. Don Bacon, a retiring Nebraska Republican, are leading the effort. Their pledge directly addresses a procedural tactic that could theoretically allow Republicans to challenge the seating of incoming members—a concern that intensified after President Trump's false claims about election fraud in 2020.

Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania and Mike Lawler of New York confirmed Friday they are also signing on, bringing the known Republican signers to three.

Gottheimer cited the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol riot as a catalyst. "Because we've lived through that, because of some of the things the president has done and has said that he's willing to do to stop the will of the people if he doesn't win or if the Republicans don't get what they want, then I think it's really important that we, again, shut down any opportunity for those who want to stop the will of the people," Gottheimer told NPR's Ailsa Chang.

The procedural vulnerability is real. On Jan. 3, 2027, a member could object to a name being added to the House roll, triggering a vote that could reject state-certified election results and send the matter back for investigation.

Trump has repeatedly claimed without evidence that Democrats cheat to win elections. In May, he said he would do "anything necessary" to ensure the U.S. has "honest" elections.

Bacon stressed the importance of a clear bipartisan position. "It's important to put down a clear, bipartisan marker that we follow state certifications, seat certified winners and preserve trust in the institution," he told the Wall Street Journal.

Rick Hasen, a UCLA professor of election law, called the scenario "very far-fetched" but acknowledged the procedural route exists. Hasen said that if Democrats controlled the House and Republicans attempted such a maneuver on Jan. 3, "it's going to provoke such a massive public reaction."

Gottheimer pushed back on that assessment. "The Jan. 6 riot also seemed far-fetched before it occurred," he said.