GOP is trying to avoid a messy Trump battle for the Electoral College

Senate Republicans Say Majority Leader Mitch McConnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnell Two-Chamber Group Urges Trump to Sign COVID-19 Aid Package Meghan McCain Says Merry Christmas to Everyone Except ‘Healthy People Under 65’ Getting Vaccine Before Frontline Workers Republicans Struggle Over Legislative prevent disaster at the end of the year MORE (R-Ky.) Will reach out to elected Senator Tommy Tuberville (Ala.) In an effort to avoid a messy floor fight next month over finalizing the results of the electoral college vote.

Senate Republican Whip John ThuneJohn Randolph ThuneTrump’s last weeks create chaos for congressional republicans thronging to avoid year-end legislative disaster Noem rules out Thune challenge after Trump criticizes senator MORE (SD) said GOP leaders will tell Tuberville that voting to suspend the Electoral College vote count next month will be a meaningless – and politically damaging – move.

“Ultimately, each senator will have to make his own decision on that, but I think there will be people, yes, who will contact him to find out,” what he’s going to do, Thune said of Tuberville’s intentions with the Electoral College. 6 January.

“If nothing else, we need to know the plan somewhat,” he added. “We’ll see. He has made some public statements” about objecting to the vote.

“I hope that eventually all senators will conclude that these elections must be over and that it is time to move on,” he said.

President TrumpDonald Trump Powell Says White House Assistants Won’t Let Her Help Trump Judge Throws Out GOP Lawsuit to Close Georgia Ballot Boxes After Business Hours Two-Chamber Group Urges Trump to Sign COVID-19 Aid Package MORE encourages Tuberville, who is former Sen. Jeff SessionsJefferson (Jeff) Beauregard Sessions Nicolle Wallace asks Chris Christie if he’s trying to ‘clean up the Trump stench’ before 2024 Barr leaves conflicting legacy with DOJ Warren plans April release of new book, ‘Persist’ MORE (R-Ala.) In the Alabama Republican primary with Trump’s backing, to contest the election vote when Congress meets in a joint session next month.

Trump said in a radio interview last weekend that he had spoken to Tuberville about contesting the vote count and the incoming senator seemed excited about the idea.

“He’s so excited,” Trump said, adding that Tuberville is grateful for the president’s support during the election. ‘He said,’ You made me the most popular politician in the United States. ‘He said,’ I can’t believe it. ‘ He is great. Great Senator. “

A Republican senator said he expects McConnell to reach out to Tuberville to convince him that it’s not a good idea to force a senate debate over the legitimacy of a state’s electoral votes.

“I’m sure the leader will get in touch with him,” said the senior lawmaker expecting McConnell to try to intervene to avoid a messy fight over the election results.

The question is will [Tuberville] listen because his entire election was based on the fact that Trump did not like Sessions, ”added the senator. “From a cold-blooded standpoint … if Trump asks him, I assume he would probably do it because he wouldn’t see a downside.”

Tuberville defeated Sessions, who represented Alabama in the Senate for 20 years before leaving Congress to serve as Trump’s attorney general, in the July primary thanks in large part to Trump’s support.

Trump captioned Tuberville on Twitter in March as “a REAL LEADER who will never abandon MAGA / KAG, or our country!”

McConnell, Thune and Chairman of the Senate Committee Roy BluntRoy Dean BluntRelief Bill Sends to Trump in Florida Trump’s Final Weeks Creating Chaos for Congress GOP Senator Warns K-Checks Fail, Urges Trump to Sign COVID Deal MORE (R-Mo.) All have advised GOP senators not to contest next month’s election vote.

“I haven’t talked to him about it personally, but I would be shocked if someone didn’t talk to him,” said Sen. John CornynJohn Cornyn Relief Bill’s passage sets in motion to declare victory, blaming Congress for making a seven-day emergency stop to buy time for COVID-19 funding deal Tough movie theaters, entertainment venues to get B in federal aid get MORE (R-Texas,), an adviser to the Senate GOP leadership.

“It actually goes through the motions,” Cornyn told the electoral college count if there is no chance of reversing the results. “It’s a pointless exercise.”

“I hope no senator will decide to do that,” he said before adding that there is no way the leaders of the GOP can be sure of what will happen next month.

“Everyone here is a free agent,” he said

Election officials in states across the country have already certified the results of the Nov. 3 presidential election, and Trump’s legal team has provided no evidence to back up its allegations of widespread voter fraud, which courts have wholeheartedly rejected.

Rep. Mo BrooksMorris (Mo) Jackson Brooks Noem Raises Thune Challenge After Trump Criticizes Senator Trump Attacks Thune: ‘He Will Be Primaried In 2022’ Growing Number Of GOP Lawmakers Back Electoral College Challenge MORE (R-Ala.) Plans to contest Biden’s victory when the House meets on Jan. 6 to consider the voting of the Electoral College. A number of other House Republicans have said they will join Brooks, but he will need one senator to force a debate and vote in both houses.

If a senator signs on an objection by a member of the House to report electoral votes from Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, or any other swing state, he would adjourn the joint meeting and force each chamber to debate and vote separately on the matter .

McConnell warned Republican Senate colleagues on a December 15 conference call that it would be a political mistake to object to the counting of certain states’ election votes on January 6.

He said it would be politically harmful to Republican senators who are re-elected to cast votes on such a divisive topic, said senators who took part in the discussion.

Senators voting to dismiss the objection are facing Trump’s wrath, which could dampen Trump loyalists’ support in future elections.

Trump has expressed frustration with Senate Republicans in recent days for not participating in his bid to contest the election.

Mitch, 75,000 VOTES, a record for a sitting president (by many). Too soon to give up, ”he tweeted to McConnell. The Republican Party must finally learn to fight. People are angry! “

On Tuesday, Trump threatened Thune with a 2022 primary challenge for urging fellow Republicans not to object to the electoral college.

Republicans in the Senate are so quick to forget. At the moment they would be left 8 seats without me supporting them in the last election. RINO John Thune, ‘Mitch’s boy’ should just let it play. South Dakota doesn’t like weakness. Primarily achieved in 2022, political career over !!! Trump tweeted.

Senators who vote to support attempts to throw out the electoral votes of Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, or other states are also facing backlash.

Meaning. Kelly LoefflerKelly Loeffler Ossoff, Warnock Every Rake In Over $ 0 Million Judge Throws GOP Lawsuit To Close Georgia Ballot Boxes After Business Hours Warnock Says He Will Focus On Georgians After Ex-Wife’s Video Turns Up MORE (R-Ga.) – if she wins a round on January 5 – and Ron JohnsonRonald (Ron) Harold Johnson Juan Williams: The GOP’s betrayal of the American Republicans who are desperately trying to avoid a fight on the ground over the Electoral College vote. (R-Wis.) Will be eligible for re-election in 2022 in states facing unsubstantiated claims of widespread voter fraud.

Republicans must also defend the outgoing Sen. Pat ToomeyPatrick (Pat) Joseph Toomey Government Used Patriot Act To Collect Logs From Website Visitors In 2019 Appeals Court Rules NSA’s Bulk Collection Of Phone Data Illegal Dunford Withdraws From Consideration To Lead Coronavirus Monitoring Panel MORE‘s (R) seat in Pennsylvania. Toomey has dismissed Trump’s allegations of voter fraud in his home state, citing a lack of evidence.

Thune said the GOP leadership wants to encourage all of our members – including new members – that we have a lot of work ahead of us and that repeating this takes a lot of time and energy and political capital that is best used to work on a agenda for next year. “