House conservative pushes back on ‘surrender caucus’ after McConnell urges senators to leave election results

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“I know there is no chance of success if you are a member of the caucus of surrender,” said Rep. Mo Brooks, an Alabama Republican who is a leader of the effort. “There is a chance of success if you fight.”

The comments are the latest sign that many House Republicans are not ready to accept the election results as leading conservatives continue to repeat President Donald Trump’s false claims for voter fraud that have yet to be proven in court – and GOP leaders. of the House are silent about recognizing that Biden is the president-elect.

Indeed, even when McConnell finally congratulated Biden on Tuesday, calling him the ‘President-elect’ for the first time, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy was silent when asked if he would acknowledge Biden’s victory, while his number 2, Steve Scalise, was publicly accept the results themselves.

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Privately, McConnell – along with his top delegates, GOP Sens. John Thune of South Dakota and Roy Blunt of Missouri – urging GOP senators on Tuesday not to join a House attempt to object to the January 6 results since they did would eventually force senators to cast a vote on the merits of the objection. GOP leaders fear they would be forced to choose between Trump and the will of the voters – and are eager not to be placed in that position.
Rep. Mo Brooks, an Alabama Republican, speaks to reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC in October 2019.

“I think there will be an objection,” Representative Jim Jordan, a Republican from Ohio, said Wednesday. “I don’t know if there will be a senator to back that up.”

Jordan added, “What’s wrong with holding a debate in the House and Senate House about an election that more than a third of voters believe was stolen?”

While it’s not uncommon for the most ardent supporters of a losing candidate to take their case to the House – something that took place after the 2016, 2004, and 2000 presidential races, Trump’s tactics have left many officials in both parties nervous. He’s started a week-long campaign with one unfounded claim after another, constantly lying about the election results and refusing to admit, even when court after court – including the Supreme Court – has dismissed Republican lawsuits to reverse the results.

It’s not clear whether Senate Republicans will join their peers to file an objection that would lead to a formal debate and ultimately a vote, though some have entertained Trump’s false claims about widespread voter fraud. Wisconsin Senator Ron Johnson, who held a hearing on Wednesday questioning the handling of the election, said he would not join the House.

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But several other senators – Josh Hawley of Missouri, Rand Paul of Kentucky, and Kelly Loeffler of Georgia – have not ruled it out.

“I haven’t thought about it or made plans to do anything,” said Paul Wednesday when asked if he would object on January 6. When asked about McConnell’s request that GOP senators abstain, Paul said, “I was not part of that call.”

A number of members of the Republican House refused to acknowledge Biden’s victory on Wednesday.

“The president has a number of legal options,” Georgia Representative Buddy Carter said when asked if he considers Biden the president-elect. South Carolina Representative Joe Wilson added, “I still think it is premature until all legal disputes are resolved,” and declined to acknowledge Biden’s victory.

Brooks, the GOP member in charge, plans to send a letter to McConnell, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, as well as committee leaders, asking them to hold hearings on the 2020 presidential election ahead of January 6, the day of the Congress. will certify the results.

“I’m going to do what I’m going to do and that’s fighting for what I believe is we need an improvement in our electoral system, whether other people join or not is up to them,” Brooks said.

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