Reps. Don Bacon, R-Neb., and Josh Gottheimer, D-N.J., are circulating a letter urging House members to recognize state-certified election winners and oppose any effort to prevent or delay them from taking office in January.

The letter asks lawmakers to pledge to oppose “any attempt to refuse or delay the seating of any Member-elect who presents a validly issued election certificate.”

Gottheimer said the effort is partly motivated by the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot, when lawmakers were forced to evacuate the House chamber as supporters of President Donald Trump breached the Capitol.

“I was in the House chamber on Jan. 6, when the doors were barricaded, and members were forced to evacuate,” Gottheimer said. “Given our experiences of late, I think it’s worth taking this extra measure.”

Bacon, who is retiring from Congress, pointed to Democrats’ consideration of challenging Republican Mariannette Miller-Meeks’ six-vote victory in Iowa in 2021 as evidence that disputes over certified election results are not limited to one party.

“We’ve seen before how this norm can come under strain,” Bacon said. “That is why it’s important to put down a clear, bipartisan marker that we follow state certifications, seat certified winners and preserve trust in the institution.”

Republican Reps. Mike Lawler of New York and Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania have also signed the letter, potentially giving the effort support from a majority of House members if all Democrats back it.

The letter is addressed to House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., and asks that certified winners be included on the House clerk’s roll when the new Congress convenes in January.

The push comes as Trump continues to raise concerns about election integrity and his administration advocates greater federal involvement in election administration.

The Heritage Foundation has argued that Congress has constitutional authority to challenge state-certified election results under certain circumstances. Heritage researcher Scott Yenor has written that Congress could deny representation to states that fail to meet certain election requirements or require new elections when voting rolls are not properly maintained.

Jeffries has said he supports honoring election results. Johnson’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The debate comes ahead of the November midterms, when control of the House will once again be decided by voters and the certification process will determine which candidates are formally seated in the next Congress.