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Ohio AG Yost leads bipartisan coalition of attorneys general condemning election violence

"Regardless of the outcome of Tuesday’s election, we expect that Americans will respond peacefully and we condemn any acts of violence related to the results."

Credit: (AP Photo/Paul Vernon)

Ohio attorney general Dave Yost speaks during a rally for Republican vice presidential candidate Sen. JD Vance in Middletown, Ohio, July 22, 2024.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost led a bipartisan coalition of 50 other attorneys general condemning election violence and calling for peace nationwide following the presidential election Tuesday, according to a press release from Yost's office.

The coalition provided the following statement:

Regardless of the outcome of Tuesday’s election, we expect that Americans will respond peacefully and we condemn any acts of violence related to the results. A peaceful transfer of power is the highest testament to the rule of law, a tradition that stands at the heart of our nation’s stability. As Attorneys General, we affirm our commitment to protect our communities and uphold the democratic principles we serve.

We call upon every American to vote, participate in civil discourse and, above all, respect the integrity of the democratic process. Let us come together after this election not divided by outcomes but united in our shared commitment to the rule of law and safety of all Americans. Violence has no place in the democratic process; we will exercise our authority to enforce the law against any illegal acts that threaten it.

According to Yost's office, the attorneys general released the statement after national polls showed concern among Americans about possible post-election unrest.

"Recognizing the gravity of these concerns, the attorneys general underscored the duty of elected leaders to ensure public order, promote national unity, and remind Americans of the importance of civil discourse," Yost's office said in a press release Monday.

Yost's office said in collaboration with counterparts in Connecticut, Kansas and Oregon, Yost gained support from the attorneys general from the following: