Judge Luttig wrote an article in The New Republic stating that January 3 is more important than November 3 regarding the election.

Posted by Bulwark Takes, Sep 15, 2026Checked Nov 2, 2026

Polygraph verdictTrue

Sources: 4 support
Said: 1 time·
Confidence: 92%

Bulwark TakesSep 15, 2026

The New Republic's author page lists Michael Luttig's September 10, 2026 essay "The Final Battle for America's Democracy," which opens "Forget November 3. It's January 3," and several outlets describe it the same way. The passage's "Judge Ludding" is a garbled reference to Luttig, and the claim faithfully reflects the passage.

The host relays this claim without endorsing it. It counts as passed on, not against the post.

What we found

Supports. The New Republic author page lists Luttig's September 10, 2026 article "The Final Battle for America's Democracy," whose subhead reads "Forget November 3. It's January 3 when Donald Trump and his MAGA Republicans might bury our democracy."[2]

Supports. Raw Story reports that Luttig laid out the January 3 scenario in a New Republic op-ed, quoting him on "another Jan. 6 next Jan. 3."[1]

Supports. The Kettering Foundation describes Luttig's New Republic piece as warning that the decisive test may come on January 3, 2027 rather than Election Day.[3]

Supports. The Vail Daily quotes Luttig saying his New Republic article addresses whether House Republicans will refuse to seat Democratic members-elect on January 3.[4]

Context. The passage's "Judge Ludding" is a misspelling of Luttig, and the extracted claim adds no figure, actor or scope the passage lacks, so the claim is graded as the post's own.