Republicans launched a futile battle to contest the results of the 2020 election, objecting to the electors in Arizona, who determined Democrat Joe Biden to be the winner over President Trump.
Congress assembled in a joint session on Wednesday to certify the election results but dissolved to respective chambers after Rep. Paul Gosar, an Arizona Republican, and Ted Cruz, a Texas Republican, jointly objected to the results.
House lawmakers and Senate lawmakers are now debating the objection and will vote on it after up to two hours of debate.
Vice President Mike Pence, who is presiding over the joint sessions, announced he will not step in to try to overturn the results, in spite of the urging of Trump, who appeared with protesters outside the Capitol.
The entire process could take up to four hours and will repeat for each state Republicans contest.
A group of GOP lawmakers plans to object to up to five additional states: Nevada, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Georgia.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Kentucky Republican, took to the Senate floor to defend the election results, calling on the Senate to stick with decisions provided by the electors.
“I believe protecting our constitutional order requires respecting the limits of our own power. It would be unfair and wrong to disenfranchise voters and overrule the courts and the states on this extraordinarily thin basis,“ McConnell said. “I will vote to respect the people’s decision and defend our system of government as we know it.”
The exercise took place a day after an apparent double victory by Democrats in two Georgia Senate races that will hand Democrats a technical majority on Jan. 20, when incoming Vice President Kamala Harris will be able to provide the 51st vote on legislation.
Sen. Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat who is poised to become majority leader later this month, condemned the effort by Republicans to thwart a Biden victory, which he said undermined democracy in the United States.
Cruz urged lawmakers to consider the objections to the state results, pointing to a poll that showed nearly 40% believed the election was “rigged.” Cruz called for a 10-day emergency audit to examine voter fraud allegations.
“Even if you do not agree with that assessment, it is the responsibility of this office to acknowledge that is a profound threat to this country and the legitimacy of any administrations that may come in the future,” Cruz said.
