Washington – More than a month after Mr. Biden won the presidential election, Senate Leader Mitch McConnell first recognized Joe Biden as president-elect. McConnell waited for the Electoral College formally voted to elect Mr. Biden on Monday, officially finalizing the election results.
“Our country officially has a president-elect and a vice-president-elect,” McConnell said in a speech on the Senate floor. “I want to congratulate President-elect Joe Biden. The president-elect is no stranger to the senate. He’s been committed to public service for years. ‘
The majority leader also congratulated Senator Kamala Harris on her victory as vice president.
“Our differences aside, all Americans can be proud that our country has a female vice president for the first time,” McConnell said.
Later on Tuesday, Mr. Biden left for a campaign event in Georgia, revealing that he “had a good talk with Mitch McConnell today,” saying he called the majority to thank him for his comments on the Senate floor.
President Trump has refused to admit, even as dozens of lawsuits brought by his campaign against the outcome have failed, and the Supreme Court has twice declined to hear cases seeking to quash the election results. The president continues to falsely insist that the elections were faked, and promotes unfounded claims of voter fraud. More than 100 Republican members of the House endorsed one of the Supreme Court dismissed lawsuits seeking to quash the election results in four states.
However, more congressional Republicans have begun to recognize that Mr. Biden will be inaugurated on January 20. Senate Majority Whip John Thune, the second-highest Republican in the Senate, told reporters on Monday that it was time to “move on.”
“I understand that there are people who have a strong sense of the outcome of these elections. But eventually you have to face the music at some point. And I think once the Electoral College has resolved the issue today, it is time for everyone to move on., “Thune said. Mr. Biden got 306 to 232 votes for Mr. Trump.
GOP Senator John Cornyn, a close ally of McConnell, told reporters on Monday that he believed it would be a “big mistake” for Republican lawmakers to try to challenge the election results when Congress formally counts the results and certifies them next year. .
“I think there will come a time when you have to realize that despite your best efforts, you have been unsuccessful, that’s pretty much the nature of these elections. You have to have a winner. You have to have a loser,” said Cornyn. .
A wave of Republican lawmakers on Monday acknowledged Mr Biden’s victory. Senator Mike Braun said in a statement that “the Electoral College has cast their vote and elected Joe Biden as the president-elect.” Senator Rob Portman similarly said that “the vote of the Electoral College today makes it clear that Joe Biden is now president-elect.” Senator Shelley Moore Capito told reporters it is “time to turn the page and start a new government.”
McConnell said in his speech on the Senate floor that he looks forward to “concluding our next 36 days strongly with President Trump.” Congress must approve an omnibus spending measure before government funding expires on Dec. 18, and lawmakers are also working on a coronavirus help package, both of which would have to be signed by Mr. Trump to become law.