During an energy summit held on Seattle’s waterfront, Democratic senators Maria Cantwell from Washington and Ron Wyden of Oregon spoke out against political violence that occurred after the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump.
Both individuals also expressed their worries regarding the selection of U.S. Senator J.D. Vance from Ohio as the running mate for Trump.
After the announcement of the Trump-Vance Republican presidential ticket, Cantwell and Wyden wasted no time in expressing their strong opinions on the matter.
During a speech at the Bell Harbor International Conference Center in Seattle on Monday, Senator Wyden emphasized the significance of Donald Trump’s recent nomination, stating that it provided a clear example of the high stakes at hand.
In regards to Vance’s policies on abortion and women’s access to health care, Wyden pointed out that Vance is against abortion and has expressed support for the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn the landmark case of Roe v. Wade.
Wyden expressed his gratitude towards Sen. Cantwell for her leadership in advocating for women’s autonomy over their healthcare decisions. He emphasized the importance of allowing women to make their own choices without government interference or influence from individuals such as Sen. J.D. Vance.
When questioned about her fellow Senate colleague, who has only served since January 2023, becoming the vice president, Cantwell emphasized their opposing views on reproductive rights.
During the campaign, there will be a lot of discussion on the issue of women’s right to choose, which is an area where Sen. Vance and I disagree,” she explained. “For our state, it is crucial that we enshrine this law into our legal code.”
Although they hold opposing political views from Vance, the senators condemned any kind of political violence in the wake of the recent assassination attempt on Trump during his campaign rally in Pennsylvania.
After the shooting incident involving Trump, various politicians in Washington state have come forward to condemn violence and have also been spreading conspiracy theories related to it.
Cantwell expressed his grief at the tragic events of the day. “It’s a terrible tragedy,” he said. “People should be able to attend a political rally and freely express their opinions without fear of losing their lives.”
According to her, although heated discourse is a natural part of the American political process, the safety of all candidates should be ensured while they are out on the campaign trail.
“As a nation, we value our free and fair elections and the progress we make by moving forward,” she expressed. “It’s essential to continue doing so to preserve our fundamental values.”
According to Cantwell, politicians have the opportunity to reduce divisiveness and adopt a more positive tone as they head into the November election. She suggests that they could achieve this by shifting their focus from attacking individuals’ character to discussing policies.
Senator Patty Murray, who, like Cantwell, hails from Washington State, issued a statement on Monday denouncing political violence. According to Murray, leaders should speak out not only against the recent attack on Trump, but also against the political violence that has been instigated or permitted by Trump and his supporters.