Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell suggested Monday that the presidential race has not been determined, and he declined to acknowledge media pronouncements that Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden defeated President Trump.
“This process will reach its resolution,” the Kentucky Republican said during a floor speech. “Our system will resolve any recounts or litigation. In January, the winner of this election will place his hand on a bible, just like it has happened every four years since 1793.”
Trump has yet to concede the race.
Media outlets projected that Biden was the winner after determining him to be the victor in Pennsylvania, which put him above the 270 electoral votes needed to win the presidency.
Trump’s campaign team is mounting legal challenges to ballot counting in some states, but critics say the effort will prove futile and that Biden has secured a clear victory.
Republican Sens. Mitt Romney of Utah and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska have congratulated Biden, but so far, Republican leaders are sticking by the president.
McConnell noted in his speech that Democrats backed then-Vice President Al Gore’s 2000 challenge to recount ballots after an apparent victory in the presidential race by then-Texas Gov. George W. Bush.
“Our institutions are built for this,” McConnell said. “We have the system in place to consider concerns. And President Trump is 100% within his rights to look into allegations of irregularities and weigh his legal options.”
