Trump claims that the impeachment is an attempt to “overturn the results of an election.” This is a talking point the Democrats used in 1998 against Clinton’s impeachment. Even Bernie Sanders was on board with it! But it’s wrong.
We elect the President and Vice President on the same ballot at the same time. (Article II, §1, Amend. XII). Removing the President makes the Vice President the President. (Article II, §§ 1 and 4.)
Impeachment doesn’t overturn an election in any sense. It does not cause a new election. It does not put Hillary Clinton in office any more than removing Bill Clinton would have elevated Bob Dole.
Indeed, as one of the Republican House managers put it in 1998: “Elections have no higher standing under our Constitution than the impeachment process. Both stem from provisions of the Constitution.”
The fact that Mike Pence is implicated in almost everything Trump has done since before inauguration in the Flynn affair and should be removed as well is a connected but different question. What might encourage 20 Republican senators to remove Trump is the simple fact that Pence is one of them and Trump never was. Removing Trump will not put Hillary in office.
Indeed, it’s almost impossible to imagine that Al Gore or Mike Pence would have done much of anything policy-wise (or judge-appointment-wise) than their President did. In fact in both cases, it might even given or have given them an advantage in the upcoming election.
This talking point will continue to grow and grow as we approach the Senate phase of impeachment. Be armed and ready. It does not overturn an election.
My view is we need Trump out first and then ask questions later. In fact, until this drama somehow concludes I’m not going to hitch my wagon to any particular candidate for the primary, because impeachment changes everything about what 2020 will be about, including, possibly, who the Republican nominee is.